STARR AND GAUGHAN WILL GRID 2ND AND 7TH FOR TMS

The pole is the fourth on the series for the Hickory, N.C. second generation competitor.

Houston's success also added to the credentials of crew chief Dennis Connor, who has quarterbacked a record three different Bud Pole winners in 2003. His previous pole winners were Jason Leffler and Jimmy Spencer, the latter driver going to victory circle as well at New Hampshire International Speedway.

David Starr, driving the No. 75 Spears Motorsports Chevrolet, turned in a late qualifying speed of 180.463 to take the outside front row starting spot for Saturday's 146-lap race. Starr now has qualified in the No. 2 spot three of his last four starts at TMS and four overall.

The Texan's run knocked Raybestos Rookie leader Carl Edwards off the front row - which he'd occupied since early in the qualifying session. Edwards, driving the No. 99 Superchips Ford, qualified at 180.383. Houston's Ultra Motorsports teammate, Tracy Hines, grabbed the fourth spot at 180.084. Jon Wood, partner to Edwards, qualified fifth at 180.048.

Edwards and Wood finished two-three behind winner Brendan Gaughan in June's series stop at the 1.5-mile superspeedway. Gaughan, nursing a 20-point championship lead over Travis Kvapil, qualified seventh. Gaughan, however, must give up the spot at the start of Saturday's race because of a pre-qualifying engine change.

Kvapil qualified 11th, one position behind Ted Musgrave, who stands third in the title chase. Dennis Setzer, within 74 points of Gaughan after last week's victory at Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway, starts 13th.

Thirty-six of 38 trucks in the garage qualified for the season's 22nd event. Shane Wallace was too slow at 167.931 and Loni Richardson failed to record a speed after an accident on his first qualifying lap.

The Bud Pole results:

1. (2)  Andy Houston, Dodge, 181.531 mph.

2. (75)  David Starr, Chevrolet, 180.463 mph.

3. (99)  Carl Edwards #, Ford, 180.385 mph.

4. (7)  Tracy Hines, Dodge, 180.084 mph.

5. (50)  Jon Wood, Ford, 180.048 mph.

6. (29)  Terry Cook, Ford, 179.575 mph.

7. (62)  Brendan Gaughan, Dodge, 179.426 mph.

8. (14)  Rick Crawford, Ford, 179.408 mph.

9. (18)  Chad Chaffin, Dodge, 179.265 mph.

10. (1)  Ted Musgrave, Dodge, 179.200 mph.

11. (16)  Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 179.164 mph.

12. (8)  Bill Lester, Dodge, 178.277 mph.

13. (46)  Dennis Setzer, Chevrolet, 178.112 mph.

14. (88)  Matt Crafton, Chevrolet, 177.038 mph.

15. (59)  Robert Pressley, Dodge, 176.910 mph.

16. (03)  Eric Jones, Chevrolet, 176.430 mph.

17. (58)  Chris Horn, Chevrolet, 175.930 mph.

18. (38)  Brandon Whitt, Chevrolet, 175.393 mph.

19. (4)  Bobby Hamilton, Dodge, 175.285 mph.

20. (07)  Shane Sieg, Chevrolet, 175.177 mph.

21. (15)  Patrick Lawler, Ford, 174.633 mph.

22. (35)  Randy Briggs #, Dodge, 174.537 mph.

23. (01)  Lance Hooper, Ford, 173.477 mph.

24. (49)  Shawna Robinson, Chevrolet, 173.193 mph.

25. (86)  Jamie Aube, Chevrolet, 172.844 mph.

26. (63)  David Stover, Ford, 172.513 mph.

27. (95)  Wayne Edwards, Ford, 172.293 mph.

28. (53)  T.J. Bell #, Ford, 172.232 mph.

29. (51)  Blake Mallory, Dodge, 171.936 mph.

30. (08)  Jody Lavender #, Chevrolet, 171.799 mph.

31. (89)  Stan Boyd, Chevrolet, 171.331 mph.

32. (72)  Randy MacDonald, Chevrolet, 170.240 mph.

33. (5)  Jerry Hill, Dodge, Provisional.

34. (23)  Phil Bonifield, Chevrolet, Provisional.

35. (93)  Jonathon Price, Chevrolet, Provisional.

36. (9)  Kenny Hendrick, Ford, 168.803 mph.

2 drivers failed to qualify.

38. (0) Loni Richardson, Chevrolet, no speed

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