Qualifying: Gordon on pole

The four-time NASCAR champion is attempting to break a 16-race losing streak, the second-longest of his career, and after being only 25th fastest in the morning, Gordon burst out of the box in the afternoon.

Gordon lapped the oval in 20.106sec (94.180mph) to nudge fellow Chevrolet driver Bobby Hamilton off the top spot.

"I figure last week at Texas I practised first and second and qualified 26th," Jeff joked, "so it's a nice change to do it this way this weekend. Maybe this is how we'll do it from now on, practice slow and qualify fast.

"We've been running good, we just haven't been finishing good. That second-place finish at Texas definitely did a lot for the morale and momentum of this race team. That was evident today.

"I hope we can continue that the rest of the weekend, and the rest of the season for that matter. We've had cars capable of winning races this year, we just haven't been able to put it all together. In the last few weeks, things have been going our way pretty good. Because it's so hard to pass here and track position is so important."

Chevys dominated proceedings and Dale Earnhardt Jr, rallying from a disastrous race at Texas on Monday, might have had the pole but bounced off the inside kerb on his second lap and spun. "I made a mistake," said Earnhardt. "I didn't think the car would turn that good."

Second placed Hamilton admitted he was fortunate to get second, saying: "I think if Dale Jr hadn't got on the kerb, he would have been sitting on the pole and we would have been third."

The most encouraging news of the day was the fourth-place run of long-suffering veteran Terry Labonte, also in a Chevy, who earned his best starting spot in two years, with his reorganised team showing signs of life.

Experience obviously counts at Martinsville as Rusty Wallace in a Ford was fifth and Bill Elliott in a Dodge sixth. The only rookie in the top 10 was Ryan Newman, in 10th.

Points leader Sterling Marlin was off-target and qualified 29th. Kenseth, second in the points, was little better, making 26th. As usual, trials at Martinsville were extremely close, with only 0.263sec separating the pole from 36th place.

For full qualifying results click here.