Blaney gives Toyota first Busch pole

Blaney, who was also the fastest Toyota qualifier for Sunday's Nextel Cup race, ran a fastest lap of 180.410 mph and was one of only two drivers to lap below the 40 seconds mark, with a lap time of 39.909.

"We could see it coming somewhat," Blaney said. "The cars have been really fast and really impressive. I think we have a chance to win every week."

The driver of the No. 10 Braun Racing Camry finished second last weekend at Daytona in the season opener of the Busch Series and is hoping to go one better this Saturday.

"In race trim the car is really fast - we are happy with it and just kind of left it. It's going to be different conditions. Later tonight it's going to be dark by the time the race ends. It will be a lot different than what we practiced in. We'll see how it goes."

The raising temperatures at Fontana made track conditions for qualifying difficult, as most drivers complained of loose cars. Both Carl Edwards and rookie Marcos Ambrose were among those spinning in their runs, the Australian hitting the wall in his out-lap.

Series champion and current points-leader Kevin Harvick qualified sixth in his No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. entry, switching teams from last weekend when he drove the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing car to victory at Daytona.

The top seven spots were taken again by Nextel Cup drivers with Steve Wallace, son of Cup champion Rusty Wallace, finishing as the best of the non-Cup drivers in eighth. However, the front splitter on his car was damaged when he finished his run as he ran down from the banking.

IndyCar and Indy 500 champion Sam Hornish Jr enjoyed a good qualifying by finishing 16th, far better than Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, who complained of an extremely loose car on his run, qualifying down in 29th.

With only 41 cars entered, all drivers will make the field for Saturday afternoon's race, which starts at 7:30 pm US Eastern Time (12:30 am GMT).