NASCAR: Jeff Gordon back on the pole in Texas

For a driver with four NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships, and 82 wins, another pole added to Jeff Gordon’s record doesn’t seem like a big accomplishment. But Jeff Gordon was delighted winning the pole at Texas Motor Speedway because it was his first pole of the year. And second pole at the one-and-one-half mile oval in three years, 68th in his storied career. It is the 17th consecutive year that Gordon.

When Gordon got out of his Chevrolet he knew he had a good lap, but just not how good. “It was solid at both ends,” he said adding “didn’t think it’s enough to keep the pole, I’d love to get a pole, we haven’t had one this year.”

Gordon averaged 191.117 mph beating Kasey Kahne, in a Dodge, at 190.975mph.

After clinching the pole Gordon added “better late than never. What a lap, I wasn’t sure it was good enough, but, I was proud of it. We have a lot of work to do (referring to race trim), we’re going to enjoy this (pole).”

Kasey Kahne said qualified fast, a little disappointed that Jeff beat us but it was the best lap I ran all year in qualifying.”

Kurt Busch, still looking for a crew chief to replace Pat Tryson, was third fastest in another Dodge at 190.941mph. Tony Stewart completes the second row, in a Chevrolet, at 190.

Points leader, Jimmie Johnson, who qualified twelfth only needs to average a tenth place finish in the final three NASCAR Sprint Cup races to wrap up an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup title.