Kasey Kahne watches the lap times posted on the scoreboard during qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Sharpie 500 auto race in Bristol, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 24, 2007. Kahne won the pole position for Saturday's race with a speed of 119.805 mph.
(AP Photo/John Russell)
August 24, 2007
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE (TICKER) -- For the second time this season, Kasey Kahne will be starting from the front row at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kahne, who started second during the March race here, lapped the 0.533-mile circuit in 16.016 seconds Friday, clocking 119.805 miles per hour in his Dodge Avenger to capture the pole for Saturday night's NASCAR Nextel Cup Sharpie 500.
Friday's pole was the second of the season for Kahne and 14th of his career. He also started first at Las Vegas in March.
Despite starting on the outside of pole-sitter Jeff Gordon for the Food City 500 on March 25, Kahne wound up finishing a disappointing 19th here, three laps down.
"We've struggled some, but we qualified second here the first race," said Kahne, who sits 27th in the standings. "We ran in the top four the whole race until we got a flat left rear, started dropping back and got together with some other cars. For some reason, we've been fast at Bristol. We were fast here the first race, and then today in practice, it felt really good. Qualifying felt good and we ran a real fast lap there."
Joining Kahne on the front row is the Dodge of rookie Juan Pablo Montoya, who posted a lap of 16.064 seconds at 119.447 mph.
"The last time here, we started 30-something and we're second right now, so it's half-decent, I guess," Montoya said. "I've got to be pleased with that. The car is handling pretty good today. We were quick from the get-go today."
The Ford Fusions of Jamie McMurray and David Ragan comprise the second row. McMurray's lap of 16.103 seconds just nipped his Roush Fenway Racing teammate, who crossed the line in 16.105.
The Toyota Camry of Dave Blaney turned in a lap of 16.110 and starts fifth.
The top Chevrolet Impala to qualify was that of reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson, who was ninth at 16.159.
Matt Kenseth, who won this race the past two seasons, rolls off 12th in his Ford after a qualifying effort of 16.174.
The Busch brothers will start side by side in the 10th row. Kurt Busch, who won the rain-delayed Michigan race on Tuesday, qualified 19th at 16.247.
"We changed so many things between practice and our qualifying run that I didn't know what to expect on the first lap, so it was really good that we were able to pick up," Kurt Busch said. "But it was a little bit of a scramble to get us to that point, so I thanked my guys right now like I would thank them in Victory Lane on Sunday."
Meanwhile, little brother Kyle Busch, the winner here in March during the inaugural Car of Tomorrow race, lapped the track in 16.251 and will start 20th.
Gordon, the series points leader, starts 18th in a Chevrolet after posting a lap of 16.237.
Kahne captures pole for Sharpie 500
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