Kurt Busch on pole in California
Kurt Busch secured pole position for Sunday's HD 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup round in a hot early evening qualifying session at California Speedway
"Just a nice, steady day for us," said Busch after clinching the spot. "To be able to sit on the pole feels cool, but we've got some work to do on Sunday."
Busch is currently 14th in the points standings and was knocked out of mathematical contention for a spot in the Chase for the championship at the last race. But far from feeling downcast about his position, the polesitter reckons that missing the Chase cut-off has been somewhat liberating.
"To have the pressure of the Chase, whether we're in or whether we're out, gone, now it feels like it's a bit easier to go out and make changes and stay focused," said Busch. "We'll see what each day brings us and just go for speed."
An eventful session saw Kevin Harvick, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. all enjoying spells on provisional pole before Busch put in his 39.016 second lap.
The previous pole-holders were all then edged out of the top five as some less-fancied names improved.
Brian Vickers joined Busch on the front row, while rookies Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. claimed third and fifth, sandwiching Scott Riggs.
The oddest moment of the session came when Bill Lester spun near the end of his first qualifying lap.
Rather than abandoning his qualifying attempt, Lester set off the wrong way around the oval before spin-turning in the pit exit and resuming, hoping that this would allow him to build up sufficient momentum for a successful second lap. The tactic failed to pay off, with Lester pulling in before completing his second attempt and therefore failing to qualify.
Qualifying times:
Pos Driver Make Speed 1. Kurt Busch Dodge 184.540 2. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 184.049 3. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 183.505 4. Scott Riggs Dodge 183.197 5. Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 182.950 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 182.792 7. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 182.672 8. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 182.454 9. Kasey Kahne Dodge 182.292 10. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 182.223 11. Matt Kenseth Ford 182.209 12. Ryan Newman Dodge 181.951 13. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 181.722 14. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 181.438 15. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 181.087 16. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 180.941 17. Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 180.736 18. Elliott Sadler Dodge 180.727 19. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 180.709 20. David Gilliland Ford 180.560 21. Greg Biffle Ford 180.519 22. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 180.180 23. Bill Elliott Chevrolet 180.099 24. Carl Edwards Ford 180.027 25. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 179.964 26. Terry Labonte Chevrolet 179.964 27. Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 179.721 28. Bobby Labonte Dodge 179.677 29. Ken Schrader Ford 179.641 30. Jeff Green Chevrolet 179.636 31. Jamie McMurray Ford 179.462 32. David Stremme Dodge 179.426 33. Casey Mears Dodge 178.931 34. Reed Sorenson Dodge 178.869 35. Kyle Petty Dodge 178.740 36. Dale Jarrett Ford 178.545 37. Michael Waltrip Dodge 178.505 38. Mark Martin Ford 178.086 39. Kevin Lepage Dodge 177.765 40. Kenny Wallace Chevrolet 177.738 41. Travis Kvapil Chevrolet 177.274 42. Dave Blaney Dodge 176.978 43. Todd Kluever Ford 175.949 44. Kertus Davis Chevrolet 175.387 45. Tony Raines Chevrolet 175.310 46. Chad Chaffin Dodge 173.035 47. Bill Lester Dodge 38.107
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