05/07/2008 02:27. Sprint Cup rookie Patrick Carpentier certainly has a sense of geography and timing.

The native of Joliette, Quebec, enjoyed a breakthrough in 2007 when he won the pole for the (now) Nationwide Series race in Montreal. In New Hampshire last week, he won another pole at the Cup track closest to his home.

Carpentier also made his first Cup start at Watkins Glen International, another track in a state bordering Canada's Quebec province.

No rookie had qualified first for a Cup race since Denny Hamlin captured the pole for the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond.

Carpentier, 36, grew up road racing and was CART's top rookie in 1997, but he said stock-car racing has become his favorite pastime, though it wasn't his first love.

"I love this sport, and I love driving these cars and I... // Chatham Daily News

Total: 3 news articles
First News Article: Niagara Falls Review, 03/07/2008 03:30