LOUDON, N.H. (AP) – Rookie Patrick Carpentier grabbed his first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Canadian driver, whose last pole came in a Champ Car in 2004 on the road course in Laguna Seca, Calif., was among the drivers who had to wait out a nearly two-hour rain delay before getting a shot at qualifying for Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301.

“It’s amazing,” said Carpentier, who took his first pole on an oval track with a fast lap was 129.776 mph. “The car was great.

“We made a couple of changes from this morning and the car just rotated beautifully through the middle of the corner. It was just stuck on the track. I’m real happy.

“Honestly, if I had won the first pole on a road course I wouldn’t be as happy,” he added. “I want to do well on the ovals because that is where they do most the racing in this series.”

The rain began while series points leader Kyle Busch, the 24th driver in the 45-car qualifying line, was on the mile oval. He completed one lap that was good for 16th best at that point before officials called him in.

The time trials were delayed for 1 hour, 54 minutes before resuming with Busch given a second chance to qualify, this time on a dry track.

He was quicker, but still wound up 27th overall.

Although the track was very slick and there was little rubber remaining after the rain, several cars were faster than Reed Sorenson, the leader before the rain delay with a speed of 128.828 mph.

Kevin Harvick followed Busch onto the track and, despite nearly hitting the wall on his fast lap, took over the top spot with a lap of 128.976. Bobby Labonte then went out and took the top spot from Harvick with a lap of 129.059.

Elephant Race removed from pre-race show

Due to last-minute permit issues, the elephant race scheduled as part of the pre-race activities Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been cancelled.

“We didn’t know until late (Thursday) that there were pachyderm permits required to move an elephant across state lines, and apparently, there are some health certifications required as well,” Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway, said in a statement. “We’re disappointed, but we simply don’t have the time to comply properly with all the federal procedures.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the Lenox Indistrial Tools 301, is scheduled to start Sunday at 2 p.m. at NHMS. Tickets were still available as of Friday.