Kahne only one to top 170, earns first pole of season

LONG POND, Pa. -- The transition to NASCAR's new racecar didn't hurt Kasey Kahne at Pocono Raceway.

The driver of the No. 9 Gillett Evernham Dodge flew around the 2.5-mile speedway in 52.873 seconds to win the pole for Sunday's Pocono 500 Sprint Cup race. At 170.219 mph, Kahne was the only driver to top 170 mph (watch video).

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Jimmie Johnson, the first driver to attempt qualifying, will start second after a lap at 169.856 mph. Mark Martin (168.897 mph), rookie Regan Smith (168.745 mph), Joe Nemechek (168.723 mph) and Carl Edwards (168.517 mph) completed the top six qualifiers for the 500-mile race.

Though Kahne's lap didn't approach the track-record 172.533 mph (52.164 seconds) he posted on June 11, 2004, it was a stellar effort in hot, humid conditions -- and in the first session of time trials at Pocono in the new racecar.

"This has always been a pretty good racetrack for us," said Kahne, who won his first pole of the season, his second pole at Pocono and the 15th pole of his career. "The whole team has really stepped it up. We've had some great cars in the last couple of months.

"To me, when you qualify good at this racetrack, you race pretty well. Track position will be big, and we're starting up front."

Johnson, who has two Pocono victories to his credit, overcame his early qualifying draw with an outstanding lap.

"Being the first car out is never a good situation," the two-time defending Cup champion said. "So I'm really pleased to put up a lap like that."

Martin likewise said driving his No. 8 to a third-place starting position was a pleasure, but he was elated by the performance of Smith, with whom he shared driving duties at Dale Earnhardt Inc. last year.

"I felt like he was my pupil last year and felt like he was a full-time Cup driver," Martin said.

Only 44 drivers attempted qualifying at Pocono, a season low number of entrants for a Cup race. J.J. Yeley was the odd man out after Terry Labonte, subbing for Kyle Petty in the No. 45 Dodge, used a past champion's provisional to make the 43-car field.