Five days ago, Kasey Kahne had written off his chances in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. But even before his pole-winning performance Friday at Kansas Speedway, his confidence was back.

“On Sunday, I had just hit another car,” said Kahne, who dropped to ninth in the Chase standings — 182 points off the lead — when he got caught in Tony Stewart’s spinout and finished 38th at Dover International Speedway. “I was devastated. Today, I’ve been able to think about it for a week. Things change.”

The Dodge star took the pole for the Banquet 400 on Sunday with a quick lap of 178.377 mph on the 1.5 mile tri-oval. Scott Riggs will start on the outside front, also in a Dodge, after turning in a quick lap of 177.936 mph.

“I’m just proud of the way the guys are coming together,” said Riggs, who is not involved in the Chase. “We’re laughing and joking, and that’s what it’s all about. The last two weeks took some wind out of our sails pointswise, but nothing has taken the wind out of our sails for wanting to be in victory lane.”

It was the 11th career pole and fifth of the year for Kahne, who has won three times from the pole this season. All five poles this year — and all five of his wins — have come in the car he drove Friday.

“I’m 5-for-7 in that car. It’s a great race car,” Kahne said. “Can we win on Sunday? I hope so.”

Jimmie Johnson, who qualified third, can relate to Kahne’s renewed optimism. In 2004, Johnson fell well off the pace early in the first Chase but made a late charge before falling just short of champion Kurt Busch.

“We had some great races, won a bunch of events, and at the same time some other guys had bad luck,” Johnson said. “If I remember right, Kurt blew an engine at Atlanta, which really got us back into it. There’s eight races left, and there’s a lot that can go on every weekend with 43 cars on the track. If you have trouble, you’re going to lose a lot of points.”

Johnson, eighth in the standings, would also like to make a stretch run.

“I don’t like the position I’m in, and I don’t want to be in the position I’m in,” he said. “I’ve been there the last few years, with a slow start in the Chase, but it’s not over.”

Brian Vickers qualified fourth, followed by J.J. Yeley, Clint Bowyer, Busch, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler and Chase leader Jeff Burton. Jeff Gordon, who trails Burton by six points for the lead, qualified 11th.

AP via Yahoo

Pos # Driver Sponsor Car

1 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge
2 10 Scott Riggs Stanley Tools/Valvoline Dodge
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet
4 25 Brian Vickers Garnier Chevrolet
5 18 J.J. Yeley Interstate Batteries Chevrolet
6 07 Clint Bowyer Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet
7 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
8 17 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Ford
9 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge
10 31 Jeff Burton Cingular Wireless Chevrolet
11 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
12 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Chevrolet
13 5 Kyle Busch Kellogg’s Chevrolet
14 29 Kevin Harvick Reese’s Chevrolet
15 12 Ryan Newman Alltel Dodge
16 43 Bobby Labonte Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
17 22 Dave Blaney Caterpillar Dodge
18 01 Joe Nemechek U.S. Army Chevrolet
19 6 Mark Martin AAA Ford
20 38 David Gilliland M&M’s Ford
21 20 Tony Stewart The Home Depot Chevrolet
22 06 Todd Kluever Post-it/3M Ford
23 1 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
24 45 Kyle Petty Wells Fargo Dodge
25 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Chevrolet
26 41 Reed Sorenson Target Dodge
27 99 Carl Edwards Office Depot Ford
28 14 Sterling Marlin Ginn Clubs & Resorts Chevrolet
29 16 Greg Biffle National Guard Ford
30 44 Terry Labonte GMAC Chevrolet
31 66 Jeff Green Best Buy Chevrolet
32 88 Dale Jarrett UPS Ford
33 42 Casey Mears Texaco/Havoline Dodge
34 61 Chad Chaffin Oak Gloves Dodge
35 55 Michael Waltrip NAPA Dodge
36 21 Ken Schrader Motorcraft/USAF Ford
37 32 Travis Kvapil Tide/Downy Chevrolet
38 96 Tony Raines DLP HDTV Chevrolet
39 37 Bill Elliott Melling Auto Parts Chevrolet
40 40 David Stremme Lonestar Steakhouse Dodge
41 26 Jamie McMurray IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford
42 7 Robby Gordon Harrah’s Chevrolet
43 78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row Chevrolet

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