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Qualifying Gordon edges Michigan pole

Jeff Gordon held on to the Michigan pole by the skin of his teeth. The triple NASCAR Winston Cup champ was made to sweat by the very last man out, Ricky Rudd, but clung on by just 0.01mph around the two-mile banked speedway

Gordon's pole speed in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo was 188.250mph, compared to Rudd's Robert Yates Racing Ford Taurus and its 188.240mph flying lap.

The Chevy man, a dominant victor at Dover last weekend, is currently second in the Winston Cup points, but closing down the leader Dale Jarrett, who continues to race with rib muscle damaga after an accident three weeks ago. Jarrett put his RYR Ford down in 21st.

Third was Richard Childress Chevy of Mike Skinner, followed by the Dodge of Dave Blaney, an on-form Ricky Craven's Ford and the Evernham Motorsports Dodge of veteran Bill Elliott. Dale Earnhardt Jr was quickest of the DEI Chevrolets in seventh, ahead of the Childress car of rookie sensation Kevin Harvick and Jeremy Mayfield's Penske South Ford.

Johnny Benson's Pontiac completed the top 10 in a less than banner season so far for GM's other brand.

Shawna Robinson, making her Winston Cup debut, got in the field on speed alone when she put in a qualifying lap of 185.529mph.

Of those who didn't make it in on pure mph, Tony Stewart, Ward Burton, Terry Labonte and Jerry Nadeau will all be forced to take a provisional to make the 43-car field for Sunday's 400-mile race.

Click here for full qualifying results.

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