Kasey Kahne took the Bud Pole today at Homestead-Miami Speedway for Sunday’s Ford 400, his sixth top-spot of the season and 12th of his career. Kahne’s time of 30.293 (178.259 mph) was less than 1/100th of a second quicker than Scott Riggs who’ll start on the outside pole. Kahne finishes the season tied with Kurt Busch for most poles, but Kahne had two outside poles this year while Busch had just one.
Kyle Busch (3rd) has his best starting spot since he had the pole at Phoenix in April
Mike Bliss (17th) has his best starting spot since he quailified 6th at Texas in October of 2005.
Welcome Juan Pablo Montoya (let the hoopla begin!). He’ll make his first Nextel Cup start in 29th place.
STREAKIN….Brian Vickers has 3 Top-10 starts in a row.
Our main combatants in the Chase are back a little ways in the field, but as we’ve seen on numerous occasion, that matters little. Jimmie Johnson will start 15th while Matt Kenseth is two rows back in 19th. Kevin Harvick (7th), Denny Hamlin (33rd), and Dale Earnhardt Jr (14th) are the only other drivers with a chance (tho slim for some) at the Championship. Jeff Gordon will be eliminated when they take the green.(Stock Car Fans)(11-17-2006)
