Mark ran a lap at 126.303 mph to earn his seventh career
pole at Bristol and the 40th of his career.Sterling Marlin was second fastest at 125.387 mph in his Dodge, with Kevin Harvick, Wallace and Todd Bodine rounding out the top five.
Mark swept the poles for races at the .533-mile Bristol track in 1995 and 1996. He has two career victories at the track - the most recent in August of 1998.
Mark's 2001 season has gotten off to a slow start, with only one finish better than 20th in his first five races - a sixth at Las Vegas. He's 23rd in the current Winston Cup standings.
For a time during Friday's qualifying session, it appeared that Harvick might go two-for-two in winning poles. Harvick won the pole for Saturday's Grand National race and then had the fastest lap in Cup qualifying until Mark and Marlin went faster near the end of the session.
It was a good day for Dodge teams, especially Petty Enterprises. Kyle Petty qualified seventh best, John Andretti was 11th fastest and Buckshot Jones was 21st - giving Jones the final pit stall on Bristol's frontstretch. Dave Blaney was eighth fastest in a Dodge and Casey Atwood was 16th quickest.
Mark's Roush Racing teammates didn't fare nearly as well as he did, however. Matt Kenseth will start 24th, Jeff Burton 32nd and Kurt Busch 39th.
