Jeff Gordon edged Kasey Kahne by 0.045 seconds to win the pole for Sunday’s Auto Club 500 at the California Speedway. The No.24 Hendrick Motorsports driver circled the two-mile speedway, located 50 miles east of Los Angeles, in 38.765 seconds (185.735 m.p.h.).

Gordon is the only Nextel Cup driver with more than one win at Fontana. He has a total of three wins - the inaugural event in 1997, then again in 1999 and 2004. The pole victory was Gordon’s first of the season and 57th of his Nextel Cup career.

Gordon is just one pole win behind legend Bobby Allison for fifth place all- time. A race win on Sunday would be Gordon’s 76th tying him with another legend - Dale Earnhardt.

“It felt special when we unloaded off the truck,” said Gordon. “I told Steve (Letarte) and the guys ‘man this thing feels awesome” and its just been proving that all day long.”

Starting alongside Gordon will be Kasey Kahne who posted a time of 38.810 seconds.

“The track has tons of grip, I should have been on the pole,” said Kahne after his run. “I’m disappointed with myself, I feel I could have gotten a little more out of the car.”

Mark Martin (38.814) and Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick (38.830) will make up row two.

Kurt Busch won the pole in both Fontana events in 2006, but failed to crack the top-15 in either race. In the spring he finished 16th and in the fall a disappointing 27th.

Kenseth won the 2006 Auto Club 500 while Kasey Kahne won the Labor Day event.

Last year’s spring race saw Kenseth edge 2006 Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson by 0.338 seconds. Carl Edwards, Kahne and Jeff Burton made up the top- five. The No.17 Roush Ford’s win was the capper for owner Jack Roush who won all three events in 2006 - Martin in a truck and Greg Biffle in the Busch Series).

Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5th), Juan Montoya (9th), Tony Stewart (11th), Kyle Busch (12th), Biffle (13th), Denny Hamlin (17th), Kurt Busch (18th), Ryan Newman (19th) and Johnson (23rd).

The race is set to begin on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (et).

KRCA.com

RESULTS AND QUOTES TO FOLLOW…

Bookmark to: