High Sierra Photo

David Reutimann wasted no time making an impact on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year contender captured the Bud Pole Friday for the inaugural EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Reutimann, driving for NASCAR legend and FOX analyst Darrell Waltrip, drove his No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota to a fast lap of 179.452 mph in just his second series appearance. The Bud Pole was the first for Toyota on a NASCAR national touring series.

Reutimann won the No. 1 starting position for Saturday's 200-mile race by edging Toyota stablemate and fellow Raybestos Rookie

 Robert Huffman, who lapped his Tundra truck at an average speed of 179.145. The difference in the two qualifying laps was a miniscule .053-second.

Daytona winner Carl Edwards qualified his No. 99 Superchips Inc. Ford in the third spot, just ahead of Mike Skinner's No. 42 Toyota Tundra Toyota. Bill Lester's No. 22 LidRock Toyota filled out the top five among the 36-truck field. Matt Crafton, Hank Parker Jr., Dennis Setzer, Travis Kvapil and Ken Schrader qualified sixth through 10th.

Reutimann's pole was the fifth for a Darrell Waltrip-owned entry but first since September 1997 when Rich Bickle was fast qualifier at Martinsville Speedway. Edwards was the last rookie pole winner, also at Martinsville, in October 2003.

Jerry Hill and Wayne Edwards, the latter damaging his truck in morning practice, made the field with provisionals while Streadman Marlin and Kelly Sutton will line up 35th and 36th based upon qualifying attempts. Greg Sacks, L.W. Miller and Loni Richardson failed to qualify.