Originally published November 6, 2009 at 10:25 PM | Page modified November 6, 2009 at 10:41 PM
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Auto Racing | Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne are 1-2 in NASCAR qualifying
Jeff Gordon is suddenly having all kind of success at Texas Motor Speedway, a track where he had never won until earlier this season.
AP Sports Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas — Jeff Gordon is suddenly having all kind of success at Texas Motor Speedway, a track where he had never won until earlier this season.
Gordon captured his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole of the season, waiting until the third-to-last race to extend his streak of 17 consecutive seasons with a pole, with a qualifying lap of 191.117 mph Friday.
"We weren't waiting," said Gordon, smiling. "We were working hard every weekend. And you know, we've been very close. ... But the fact that we did get it and to do it here at Texas, a track where we have struggled at until recently, this is a great place to do it. We're focused on ending this season the best we possibly can. "
Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw and Kurt Busch qualified second and third in Dodges, and Tony Stewart was fourth in his No. 14 Chevrolet.
Only David Pearson and Richard Petty have longer streaks than Gordon of seasons with a pole. Pearson went 20 consecutive seasons (1963 to 1982) and Petty had 18 (1960 to 1977).
Gordon is third in points, 192 behind Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson, who drives the No. 48 Chevrolet on which Gordon is listed as the owner. Johnson is vying for an unprecedented fourth consecutive season title and needs only to average a 10th-place finish the last three races to get it.
Mark Martin, another Hendrick driver, is second, eight points ahead of Gordon. Martin qualified seventh and Johnson 12th for Sunday's Dickies 500.
When Gordon won at Texas in April, it broke a 47-race winless drought and gave him a victory at one of the two active tracks where the four-time series champion had never won.
Notes
• Kyle Busch started his Texas tripleheader with another NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory.
Busch has won each of his last five truck races, extending the streak that began at Bristol, Tenn., in August when he beat Matt Crafton by 0.725 seconds at the 1 ½-mile, high-banked Texas track.
"That's cool, man. That's a pretty proud accomplishment," Busch said. "I've wanted to win a truck race here for a long time."
Busch has won seven times in 13 starts this season in the No. 51 Toyota, and been outside the top two in three races. Series points leader Ron Hornaday Jr. was third; he has a 197-point lead with two races left.
