Sears Point Boris Said Qualifying Report

Said's slip costs him Bud Pole By Brett Borden

SONOMA, Calif. (Oct. 10, 1998) They all said he was the man to beat, so one man took their advice to heart. Boris Said dominated Sears Point Raceway from the moment he brought his No. 44 Federated Auto Parts Ford into town for Sunday's Kragen/Exide 150. He posted the fastest time in every one of five practice sessions. He may end up dominating the race itself. But somehow the Bud Pole Award slipped from his grasp. Tom Hubert, perhaps the only other driver in the field with a road-racing resume to match Said's, especially at Sears Point, knocked Said out of the saddle to claim fastest man honors. "It was a really good lap, but I couldn't get the F-150 whoa-ed down for the last turn," said Said. "I just over-drove it on the last turn. Other than that it was a really good lap. We've been fast all weekend." Very fast. So fast that a 'Who's going to get second?' attitude prevailed in the garage area. But it turned out to be Said who got second, which may simply serve to make him that much more dangerous. It has been 15 races since someone won a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from the Bud Pole. Hubert will be tough, but one mistake on a Bud Pole Qualifying lap can be made up for 100 times over during a long race. "We've got a lot of Federated people here, and we've got one fast Ford F-150 so I'm pretty happy," said Said. "The race is going to be a tough race. Tire wear will be real high so track position and good pit stops will be what it takes to have a good run. Hopefully, we'll be there." It's always more fun being the hunter and not the hunted, so maybe Said can get his big-game trophy Sunday.

Source: NASCAR Online