AROUND THE TRACKS Motorsports roundup

NASCAR trucks
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Mike Skinner extended Toyota's streak of poles to three on the NASCAR truck circuit with a record-breaking qualifying run Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.
But a prequalifying engine change will force Skinner to fall to the end of the 36-truck field at the start of today's Silverado 350K.
"It was nobody's fault," Skinner said. "There was a part that has never broken before in all the development of the Toyota engine.
"The one thing we haven't had a lot of this year is any racing luck. Hopefully, we can get some of that tomorrow."
The top starting spot was the second this season and 17th in Craftsman competition for the former series champion. His fast lap of 182.174 mph broke Scott Riggs' 3-year-old qualifying record of 181.953 on the 11/2-mile oval.
Second-fastest Friday was the Chevrolet of Shane Hmiel at 182.051.
Skinner won the pole in Las Vegas and finished sixth, and former teammate Travis Kvapil made it two top starting positions in a row for Toyota earlier this month at California Speedway.
Bill Lester, who qualified third in another Toyota, will move into Skinner's vacated starting spot. Lester ran a fast lap of 182.027. Hank Parker Jr. was the final driver to break Riggs' record, driving his Toyota to a speed of 181.947.
David Starr's Chevy completed the top five at 181.941. Rookie points leader David Reutimann took the sixth spot on the grid, followed by Johnny Benson, Dennis Setzer, Chad Blount and Jon Wood.
Series leader Bobby Hamilton qualified his Dodge 32nd. He leads Setzer by 56 points with five races to go.
IRL qualifying
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Helio Castroneves tied an IRL record by winning a fourth consecutive pole in qualifying Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway.
"Four in a row, it's just awesome," the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner said after matching Billy Boat's five-year-old record.
Castroneves logged a lap of 215.996 mph on the 11/2-mile track in a Toyota-powered Dallara. The pole for Sunday's season-ending Chevy 500 was the fifth this year and 16th overall for Castroneves.
The Brazilian edged Tomas Scheckter, who turned a lap of 215.831 in a Dallara/Chevrolet.
Castroneves watched Scheckter's lap earlier in the session and knew it wouldn't be easily eclipsed.
"Obviously, he put in a great lap," Castroneves said. "I spoke to the team and said, 'It's going to be close.' "
It was the best start of the season for Scheckter.
"We needed a good qualifying result," he said.
Third went to Sam Hornish Jr., Castroneves' teammate. Vitor Meira claimed the outside of the second row in a G-Force/Honda.
Although Castroneves' speed was a big jump from Dario Franchitti's June pole at 209.609, it was well off the track record set last year by Gil de Ferran at 222.864. That was due to a reduction in engine size after this year's Indy 500.
Associated Press