Friday, August 13, 2010

Kahne Wins the Pole for Sunday's Michigan CARFAX 400

By Micah Roberts

Kasey Kahne laid down the fastest lap during Friday's Carfax 400 qualifying session to capture his second pole of the season. Kahne's lap of 187.183 set the pace and will be starting from the front row in Sunday's race with Jimmie Johnson who came in second at 186.086 mph.

Kahne won at Michigan in 2006 while the track remains one of only four on tour that Johnson has never won at. Unlike the other three tracks where Johnson has never won, Michigan is the only track that has two dates annually.  

Third fastest during the late-afternoon qualifying session was Clint Bowyer who put up a lap of 186.577 mph becoming the fastest of the Childress drivers. In the early practice sessions leading up to qualifying, Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick were within the top-three while Bowyer practiced 13th best.

Tony Stewart was fourth fastest with last week's Watkins Glen winner Juan Pablo Montoya qualifying fifth.

Qualifying up front has been a major factor in winning at Michigan over the years. 52 of the 82 (63%) races run at Michigan have been won from a top-five starting position and 62 (78%) of them have been from the top-10. Between the raw horsepower needed to win and traditionally having long green flag runs, it's been wise to go with those starting near the front at Michigan.

CARFAX 400 Lineup

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