Kahne bumps Johnson from Michigan pole

Kahne bumps Johnson from Michigan pole

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
August 13, 2010)

BROOKLYN, Mich.—Perhaps the mere thought of Red Bull gave Kasey Kahne wings.
Three days after announcing he would drive a Red Bull Racing Toyota for one year—as he waits for Mark Martin to complete his contract in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet—Kahne put his No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford on the pole at Michigan International Speedway.
In Friday’s time trails for Sunday’s Carfax 400, Kahne streaked around the 2-mile track in 38.465 seconds (187.183 mph) to edge Jimmie Johnson (38.485 seconds, 187.086 mph) for the top starting spot.
Clint Bowyer, locked in a tight battle against Martin for a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, qualified third at 186.577 mph. Tony Stewart (186.572 mph) will start fourth, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya (186.461 mph).
Kahne won his second Coors Light Pole Award of the season and the 18th of his career.
“(Turns) 1 and 2 were really strong,” said Kahne, who won his second pole at Michigan. “Coming to the green, I felt like I was a little bit free, and it was the same through 1 and 2, but I got through there really good and carried a lot of speed down the backstretch.
“Then, when I got to Turn 3, I couldn’t get it to turn enough, so I kind of just floored it and actually used up a lot of the racetrack, went up the track a little bit loose off (the corner) and definitely didn’t have as good a 3 and 4 as I would have liked.
“At that point, I thought I probably gave the pole away, but we were able to still hang on just from the speed that we had in 1 and 2.”
Kahne said it was a comfort to have his status for next year decided.
“It’s nice to have that done with and to know for myself where I’m going, to know what I’m doing and to focus on the end of the year with the Bud team, with Richard Petty Motorsports,” said Kahne, who announced in April he would drive the No. 5 car in 2012, with a ride for 2011 to be determined.
“I don’t know how much that’s been on my mind—it’s hard to say. I feel like I’m focused pretty good each week and really trying to do the right things, but it’s something that I definitely think about a lot, so I think that could help me some.”

Notes: Mike Bliss, J.J. Yeley, Scott Riggs and Casey Mears failed to qualify for the 43-car field. … Martin, who is 12th in the standings and 10 points ahead of Bowyer, will start 12th. … Series points leader Kevin Harvick qualified eighth.