DARLINGTON, S.C. – Ricky Craven, who resurrected his career after his own head injury, spoiled Steve Park’s comeback Friday by winning the pole for the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400.

Park, at his first race since bruising his brain in a wreck here last September, qualified fourth for Sunday’s event.

“If I had one wish, it would be that everyone give him a mulligan, just give him a break,” Craven said. “Because he proved today he’s every bit the driver he was before the accident.”

Craven, who missed most of the 1998 season while he recovered from post-concussion syndrome, ran a lap at 170.089 mph around the 1.366-mile oval in a Ford to take his second pole of the season and sixth of his career.

Jeff Gordon, off to a slow start in his bid to defend his Winston Cup title, qualified second at 170.071 mph in a Chevrolet.

Rookie Ryan Newman was third in a Ford and Park, the fastest driver in the morning practice, was fourth at 169.351 mph in his Dale Earnhardt Inc.-owned Chevrolet.

“They gave me a car capable of qualifying on the front row and I didn’t let them down, but the front row is where I wanted to be,” Park said. “It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I mean, I was sitting around for the past six months, and now I’m back and had a strong effort today.”

Park, 34, was injured in a Busch race here when his car veered left under caution and into the path of Larry Foyt, who was speeding to catch up with the pace car. It’s believed his steering wheel came off its mount, causing Park’s car to make the sharp movement.

His injuries led to temporary blurred vision and slurred speech, hindering his comeback attempt. Kenny Wallace filled in for him at DEI but was relieved of his duties this week when Park was cleared to come back.

Craven felt confident that Park was ready to return.

“We do this because we have a passion for it, and probably the most difficult time for me was watching somebody else drive my race car,” Craven said. “I know Steve’s been out for six months watching somebody else drive his car, and he’s back – No. 1, because he’s 100 percent and he feels great and ready to race.

“But he’s also back because he has that passion.”

Park estimates his vision has improved to about 95 percent, although his speech is still a bit slurred. But he’s excited to race on Sunday and will have his parents in attendance for support.

“We’ve put them through a lot,” he said. “So it will be good to have them here to see me make it all the way back.”

Jimmie Johnson, teammate and protege to Gordon, starts fifth. Elliot Sadler is sixth and followed by Jimmy Spencer, Ken Schrader, Jeff Green and Bill Elliott.

Points leader Sterling Marlin qualified 11th.

Only 43 cars attempted to qualify for the race, meaning everyone made the field, including Shawna Robinson, who was the slowest car on the track at 154.642 mph. Robinson was not originally scheduled to run this event but came when it became clear she would be guaranteed a spot in the race.

Gordon, meanwhile, was encouraged by his qualifying run and hoped it might jump-start his season. Currently 11th in the points, the four-time series champion has struggled in qualifying in the first four events and his highest finish was a seventh at North Carolina Speedway.

“We’ve struggled here a little bit recently,” Gordon said. “Some of it started on qualifying and I knew I needed a good run to get things going. Hopefully this can start the weekend out right.”