Mayfield scores surprise Talladega pole.

In a long, drawn-out Bud Pole qualifying session at the Talladega Superspeedway Jeremy Mayfield emerged as the surprise polesitter for Sunday's Aaron's 499 with his first Pole Position in more than two full seasons.

Mayfield, whose last pole position came at the autumn Rockingham race in 2000, had to wait for more than two hours under grey Alabama skies before top spot was confirmed after setting a best lap of 51.349secs (186.488mph). When Mayfield took his turn to qualify almost all of the leading runners from practice had still to take their qualifying laps and so there were no rapturous celebrations in the #19 Ray Evernham Motorsports camp as the Kentucky born driver flashed across the stripe.

However as car after car, including practice pacesetters Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, failed to beat Mayfield's time nerves began to set in in the #19 pit. Finally, as the 2.66-mile Superspeedway began to lose speed in the final minutes of the session, a highly popular and most welcome pole for the underachieving #19 squad was confirmed.

Starting alongside Mayfield on the front row will be Richard Childress Racing's Kevin Harvick while Elliott Sadler and Jeff Gordon comprise the second row.

Mayfield's teammate, former Talladega King Bill Elliott will start fifth alongside the surprise of the session, David Green. Green qualified a fifth Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in sixth position, going some way towards making up for not qualifying for the Daytona 500 earlier this year with the #60 team.

Robby Gordon completely turned the set-up of his #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet around and set seventh fastest time with Jimmie Johnson eighth, Ryan Newman ninth and a very pleased Mark Martin tenth.

Casye Mears was the best of the Raybestos Rookie of the Year qualifiers with eleventh fastest time while Dale Earnhardt Jr could only manage 14th quickest in the #8 Budweiser Chevy.

Other efforts of note included Tony Stewart in 20th position, Jack Sprague 21st and Kyle Petty a heroic 22nd despite still being in pain from the rib injuries he suffered two weeks ago at Bristol.

Three drivers failed to make the cut, Larry Foyt, Brett Bodine and Mike Wallace in the much fancied #09 Phoenix Racing Dodge. Meanwhile Ricky Rudd, Jeff Burton, Dave Blaney, John Andretti, Ken Schrader, Mike Skinner and Tony Raines had to use provisionals to get into the field.