CONCORD, N.C. – Maine native Ricky Craven succeeded in his first 115 attempts to qualify for Winston Cup races. His streak came to an end this week at the Coca-Cola 600.

Craven, whose run of qualifying successes included the first 11 races of the 1999 season, did not go fast enough in either round of time trials at Lowe’s Motor Speedway at Charlotte. Because he is driving for a new team this year, he was not eligible for a provisional starting spot for Sunday night’s race, so his crew had to pack up their equipment and head home to get ready for next week’s event in Dover, Del.

“Nothing prepares you for missing a race,” said Craven, the 1995 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. “This is the first time I’ve missed a race, but the pain is equal throughout the team.”

Craven has no finishes better than 19th this year and is 41st in the points standings.

“There are a lot of things that have put us at a deficit – primarily time,” he said. “If we had been able to get started earlier, it certainly would have made a difference. I believe that, but I don’t think preventing this from happening again will come as a result of making excuses. It’s going to come as a result of preparing ourselves to be a better team. We’ll get better.”

Michael Waltrip led Friday’s second-round qualifying for the Carquest Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Grand National race at Charlotte on Saturday.

Waltrip’s fast lap of 174.205 mph earned him the 26th starting spot in Saturday’s race. David Green won the pole Thursday with a lap of 176.569.

Twenty-four cars took part in the second round of time trials. The drivers who didn’t make the field included Winston Cup regulars Terry Labonte and Geoffrey Bodine.

Second-round qualifying and practice time for the Grand National cars were the only items on the track’s schedule Friday. Winston Cup teams were given the day off.