NASCAR notes

Montoya claims pole for first Chase race

Juan Pablo Montoya will have a hard time playing the role of darkhorse if he keeps driving like this.

Montoya will make his debut in the Chase for the Sprint Cup from the pole after setting a track record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway yesterday.

Montoya turned a lap at 133.431 mph on the 1.058-mile oval, breaking the mark of 133.357 set by Ryan Newman in 2003.

It's a good way to start the 10-race Chase, but Montoya cautioned it's just a start. "If it was a 10-lap shootout, I'd say 'Hey, we're pretty good,'" Montoya said.

The Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver will have plenty of company from his fellow Chase drivers tomorrow. Two-time series champion Tony Stewart, who built a huge points lead that was wiped out when the Chase field was set this week, qualified second.

He was followed by Kurt Busch, winner of the 2004 inaugural Chase, Denny Hamlin (Manchester High), who is still riding high from last week's victory at hometrack Richmond, and Carl Edwards, the preseason championship favorite.

Tryson switching teams for personal reasons

Crew chief Pat Tryson would not discuss his reasons for leaving Penske Racing at the end of this season, saying only that the decision has nothing to do with driver Kurt Busch.

Tryson is moving to Michael Waltrip Racing next year to crew chief for Martin Truex Jr. His impending departure was revealed last week, as the No. 2 team readied for the start to the Chase.

"My decision . . . had nothing to do with Kurt Busch. I had to do things for me, for my personal reasons." Tryson said. - From Wire Reports