Coming back to Dover International Speedway was just what Jeff Gordon needed.
Returning to the Monster Mile, where he has four career victories, Gordon turned a lap in 22.921 seconds (157.061 mph) Friday afternoon to win the pole for Sunday’s Camping World RV 400, the second race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Gordon, who claimed his fourth pole at the high-banked concrete track, edged Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Mark Martin (157.054 mph) by a thousandth of a second for the top spot. Denny Hamlin (156.515 mph) qualified third, followed by Kurt Busch (156.379 mph) and Greg Biffle (156.284 mph), who won the first Chase race last Sunday at New Hampshire.
Clint Bowyer, David Gilliland, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from positions 6-10. Cup points leaders Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards earned the 20th and 22nd positions on the grid, respectively.
Starting in front at Dover is something Gordon feels is important, saying: “It’s a big advantage. Pit road is very narrow.”
“This is a big boost for the team,” Gordon added. “I know it’s just qualifying but it’s a great start to the weekend.”
Gordon will be looking to improve his standing in the ‘Chase for the Championship’ after running 14th last week in the first playoff race of the season at the Sylvania 300.
Gordon is 11th in the points race, 99 points behind co-leaders Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.
“We’re certainly not out of the championship, we understand that,” Gordon said. “It’s too early to ever count yourself out of that. We’re too good of a team to every count ourselves out. We would never do that mentally.”
“Some people weren’t around when he came into this thing,” Martin said. “He was the most incredibly talented driver that a lot of us had seen. And he still is that same guy and same incredibly talented race car driver who has potential to get on a roll and be a Chase contender for sure.”
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