Goeters steals Motorola pole

The Mexican edged Robby Gordon in front of joyous hometown fans.
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Some NASCAR teams worried about security as they made their first trip south of the border. They had reason for concern: Somebody stole the pole.
Mexico's Jorge Goeters thrilled hometown fans Saturday by topping qualifying for today's Telmex-Motorola 200, edging Nextel Cup veteran Robby Gordon.
"It was really cool to see that guy get the pole, to see all the fans going crazy with the air horns going," said defending series champ Martin Truex Jr., who was third-fastest. "I don't think they'd have done that for me."
It also was good news for NASCAR, adding to local interest in a race that it hopes will help build an enduring relationship with fans in Mexico and with Hispanic fans in the United States as well.
"As far as Busch qualifying, I don't think we've ever had this many people at the track," Truex said, though officials did not have a count of the crowd Saturday.
Happiest day of his life
Goeters called it "the happiest day of my life" after his No. 66 Ford bumped Gordon to second on the 2.518-mile road course.
"I can't tell you what this event means for me and for my country. I've always dreamed of running in NASCAR," Goeters said.
"I didn't even know it was a good lap until my team told me. 'You did it! You're the leader!' "
It got even happier later. Goeters started on the pole in the afternoon's Corona Challenge race and finished second to brother Patrick.
The two leaped atop Patrick Goeters' car and embraced after the race, part of what NASCAR hopes will become a local development series. The Corona stockers develop about 390 to 400 horsepower.
The 34-year-old Goeters has won Mexican titles in trucks (2002), Mustangs (1997), sport prototypes and tractor trucks (both in 1996).
But even in Mexico City, he's been overshadowed by a half-dozen other drivers, such as Adrian Fernandez, Busch Series rookie Michel Jourdain Jr. and Champ Car driver Mario Dominguez.
Gordon said he had been told that he would have to drop to the back of the pack due to an engine change after practice on Friday.
But NASCAR officials said later he could start in the front row because the change came before qualifying.
Expects lots of yellow flags
He expected the slick, winding track to produce a lot of yellow flags on race day: "I'm going to take a number and say 12.
Road course specialists Boris Said and Ron Fellows qualified fourth and fifth, following by series points leader Kevin Harvick.
Said was the last driver to take a poll in his first Busch Series race, at Watkins Glen in 1998.
While Goeters benefited from knowledge of the track, fellow veterans of the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit were slipping, sliding and crashing as much as the oval-track visitors.
Fernandez, who had Friday's fastest practice time, shocked the fans by veering wide on the sixth turn and slapping the wall with his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
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