Crew chief Pat Tryson congratulates Kurt Busch after he took the pole position Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, for Sunday's NASCAR Sharp Aquos 500 auto race at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)


Kurt Busch nabs pole on a good day for Dodges
Posted on Fri, Aug. 31, 2007
DAVID POOLE

FONTANA, Calif. – It was somehow fitting that one of Nextel Cup racing’s hottest drivers won a pole Friday at California Speedway.
How warm was it where Kurt Busch, driving the No. 2 Dodge, ran 182.399 mph to earn the top starting spot for Sunday’s Sharp Aquos 500.

Well, you can come up with your own punch lines, but it was 107 degrees when qualifying started and only a touch cooler when a merciful cloud came across during the time 47 cars were making their runs.

Busch, who scored dominant victories at Pocono and Michigan as he roared his way into position to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup, ran 182.399 mph to earn his first pole of the season and the ninth of his career.

“We thought we had a good top-10 car after practice,” Busch said. “I drove it for all it was worth. We’re thinking big picture right now, but this is a blessing.”

It was close – about as close as you can get. Jimmie Johnson, after spending much of the week around his hometown of El Cajon, Calif., about two hours south of this 2-mile speedway, ran 182.394 mph. The difference between Busch’s lap time and Johnson’s was one one-thousandth of a second.

Penske Racing and Gillette Evernham Motorsports will each have two Dodges in the first three rows for Sunday’s night’s race. Kasey Kahne was third fastest in a GEM car at 182.020 mph, just ahead of Busch’s teammate, Ryan Newman, who ran 181.415. Kyle Busch was fifth in his No. 5 Chevrolet at 181.342 mph, with Elliott Sadler, Kahne’s teammate, was sixth fastest at 181.333.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., clinging to fading hopes of making this year’s Chase, was seventh fastest with Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Greg Biffle rounding out the top 10.

Scott Riggs, Ward Burton and Dale Jarrett failed to make the race.


Jimmie Johnson, right, congratulates Kurt Busch after qualifications Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, for Sunday's NASCAR Sharp Aquos 500 auto race in Fontana, Calif. Busch took the pole with a time of 39.474 seconds and Johnson took second at 39.475 seconds.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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I like it, now if the rest of the Dodge boys run up front this weekend it will be way cool. RACECAT

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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Sure was a quick lap that Kurt laid down, when Jimmie was crossing the line I thought he might of gotten it but just came up short!

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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