He has been very strong in the last few NASCAR Sprint Cup races but no one expected young Kasey Kahne (Dodge No 9) to grab the pole in the first road course race of the Sprint Cup season at the Infineon Raceway in California.
Kahne did just that in front of last year champ Jimmie Johnson (Chevy No 48) and Kurt Busch ( Dodge No 2).
Incredibly, most experienced road racers did not fair as well as expected.
Kiwi Marcos Ambrose did place the No 21 Ford on the 7th starting spot but Canadian expert Ron Fellows (Chevy No 01), fresh from a second place finish in his class at Le Mans, could only grab the 22nd spot right behind last year winner Juan Pablo Montoya (Dodge No 42).
Veterans Scott Pruett (Dodge No 41) and Max Papis (Chevy No 66) posted the 27th and 28th place while NASCAR regular Patrick Carpentier (Dodge No 10) took only the 37th starting position.
J.J. Yeley (Camry No 96), Scott Riggs (Chevy No 70), Dario Franchitti (Dodge No 40) and Brandon Ash (Dodge No 02) did not qualify.
Kahne did just that in front of last year champ Jimmie Johnson (Chevy No 48) and Kurt Busch ( Dodge No 2).
Incredibly, most experienced road racers did not fair as well as expected.
Kiwi Marcos Ambrose did place the No 21 Ford on the 7th starting spot but Canadian expert Ron Fellows (Chevy No 01), fresh from a second place finish in his class at Le Mans, could only grab the 22nd spot right behind last year winner Juan Pablo Montoya (Dodge No 42).
Veterans Scott Pruett (Dodge No 41) and Max Papis (Chevy No 66) posted the 27th and 28th place while NASCAR regular Patrick Carpentier (Dodge No 10) took only the 37th starting position.
J.J. Yeley (Camry No 96), Scott Riggs (Chevy No 70), Dario Franchitti (Dodge No 40) and Brandon Ash (Dodge No 02) did not qualify.