Nemechek ends 4-year drought

“Front Row Joe” is back on top. Finally.

Joe Nemechek took his first pole in four years and the seventh of his NASCAR Nextel Cup career, earning the top spot for Sunday’s EA Sports 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

“We’ve been right on top of our game,” said Nemechek, who got his No. 01 Chevrolet around the steeply banked 2.66-mile at 190.749 mph Friday. “You know, it’s about the car in qualifying. The car has got to be right and the engine has got to be right.

“When the race comes, that’s when the driver makes a difference.”

Nemechek earned his nickname with six Cup poles from 1997-2000.

Ricky Rudd was second in a Ford at 190.609, followed by Dale Jarrett’s Taurus at 190.374 and the Chevy of Nemechek’s rookie MBV/MB2 Motorsports teammate Scott Riggs at 190.310. The rest of the top 10 was made up of drivers who are part of NASCAR’s new 10-driver, 10-race playoff-style championship.

Kvapil takes pole, then crashes

Travis Kvapil won his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole, but later crashed during practice and will start from the back of the field in the American Racing Wheels 200 at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

Kvapil, the defending series champion, hadn’t won a pole in 90 previous appearances. He lapped the two-mile speedway at a record average of 178.669 mph. In final practice, Kvapil had a flat tire and hit the wall between turns one and two. He was not injured, but was forced to go to a backup truck for the race.

Mike Skinner, who qualified second, fell to the rear of the field today because of a pre-qualifying engine change.

Rookie David Reutimann and Hank Parker Jr., who qualified third and fourth, will start from the front row.