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Jeff Gordon beat his nearest NASCAR Chase rival, Kurt Busch, to win the pole for Saturday night's race at Richmond International Speedway.
The four-time champion is 11th in the standings (with no victories) six points behind Busch and needs to climb up at least one spot in the standings to make the Chase without a win.
Busch, the 2004 champion, had qualified first at a speed of 130.334 mph -- tying the record set by Matt Kenseth in the Spring race here. Then Gordon went out and broke the record at 130.599mph around the three-quarter mile oval.
For Gordon who must race his way into the Chase it was a bit easier than last year when he had the same task.
“Last year I was really on edge and it was stressful,” said Gordon.
“The entire weekend was stressful. And I've been a lot more calm this weekend. I don't know exactly why other than I think because we went through so much last year that it does help prepare you to deal with whatever is thrown at you and know that you're giving your best. This is only step one.
“We started pretty good here last year, if I remember correctly.”
Busch, who drives for the one car Furniture Row Team (before leaving for Stewart Haas Racing next year) made a point that the third place qualifier, Brad Keselowski, was another Champion who also has to race his way into the Chase. But Keselowski is a long shot.
“I'm going to just draw the parallel that all three of us have and that is the Sprint Cup trophy that is sitting in our trophy room,” said Busch. “That is why you probably see us three up there.”
Clint Bowyer was fourth fastest at 130.020mph, followed by Kenseth at 129.864 mph.
Gordon will be doing his best to repeat history and lock himself into Chase with a timely victory on Saturday evening.
"That's huge, to be able to do that at a crucial time, get that No. 1 pit stall (closest to the exit from pit road) and set ourselves up to do what we're going to have to do here (Saturday)," Gordon said.
"It's going to be tough. It's going to be a hard fight, and I think we just got that little bit of confidence boost that we need."
At the moment Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman are the leading wild card challengers (in the top 20 in points but have at least one win. Truex will start 11th while Newman takes the green flag from 24th.
The four-time champion is 11th in the standings (with no victories) six points behind Busch and needs to climb up at least one spot in the standings to make the Chase without a win.
Busch, the 2004 champion, had qualified first at a speed of 130.334 mph -- tying the record set by Matt Kenseth in the Spring race here. Then Gordon went out and broke the record at 130.599mph around the three-quarter mile oval.
For Gordon who must race his way into the Chase it was a bit easier than last year when he had the same task.
“Last year I was really on edge and it was stressful,” said Gordon.
“The entire weekend was stressful. And I've been a lot more calm this weekend. I don't know exactly why other than I think because we went through so much last year that it does help prepare you to deal with whatever is thrown at you and know that you're giving your best. This is only step one.
“We started pretty good here last year, if I remember correctly.”
Busch, who drives for the one car Furniture Row Team (before leaving for Stewart Haas Racing next year) made a point that the third place qualifier, Brad Keselowski, was another Champion who also has to race his way into the Chase. But Keselowski is a long shot.
“I'm going to just draw the parallel that all three of us have and that is the Sprint Cup trophy that is sitting in our trophy room,” said Busch. “That is why you probably see us three up there.”
Clint Bowyer was fourth fastest at 130.020mph, followed by Kenseth at 129.864 mph.
Gordon will be doing his best to repeat history and lock himself into Chase with a timely victory on Saturday evening.
"That's huge, to be able to do that at a crucial time, get that No. 1 pit stall (closest to the exit from pit road) and set ourselves up to do what we're going to have to do here (Saturday)," Gordon said.
"It's going to be tough. It's going to be a hard fight, and I think we just got that little bit of confidence boost that we need."
At the moment Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman are the leading wild card challengers (in the top 20 in points but have at least one win. Truex will start 11th while Newman takes the green flag from 24th.