Jeff Gordon Grabs Pole For Sunday

Jeff Gordon, in the middle of his worst career slump, showed signs of his old power Friday by winning the pole for the Mall.com 400 at Darlington Raceway.

Gordon, starting last at the track where he’s won five times, turned a lap of 172.662 mph to edge Kevin Lapage, Ward Burton and Dale Earnhardt. It was Gordon’s 31st career pole, but his first in 18 races since the Brickyard 400 last August.

A victory Sunday would be Gordon’s first of the year - he hasn’t gone this late in the season without winning since 1994 - and his first in nine races since Charlotte last October.

Not exactly a major drought. But after losing longtime crew chief Ray Evernham to the new Dodge teams and several members of the Rainbow Warriors to Dale Jarrett, the 28-year-old driver had to answer the question over and over - what’s wrong with Wonderboy?

“These last few weeks have been humbling and it’s helped me to work harder as a race car driver,” he said.

Spokane’s Chad Little qualified 44th at 168.043 mph.

Martin on Busch pole

Winston Cup stars Mark Martin and Jeff Burton showed again why they’re two of Darlington Raceway’s most dominant drivers, qualifying first and second for the Busch Grand National SunCom 200.

Martin’s lap of 167.038 mph gave him his seventh pole at Darlington and his second straight in this event. A victory today would be his third in four Grand National starts this year.

“Everybody thinks these races are so easy to win for me,” said Martin, who’ll concentrate solely on Winston Cup after this season. “We’ve lost a lot more of those than we won.”

But just barely. He’s won a record 42 Busch races and taken 25 poles in 190 career starts.

Richards starts in No. 5

Spokane’s Kevin Richards will start from the No. 5 position in the $156,658 NASCAR Winston West Series stock car race today in Phoenix.

Richards hit 127.764 mph in the trials. The pole sitter is Steve Portenga, who was timed at 129.394.

Ruttman ties record

At Avondale, Ariz., Joe Ruttman tied a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series record by winning his third consecutive pole in qualifying for the Chevy Trucks 150.

Ruttman qualified at 129.204 mph, a record on Phoenix International Raceway’s mile oval.

Andy Houston, Marty Houston and Greg Biffle - the next three qualifiers - also eclipsed the old mark of 128.402 mph set last year by Jack Sprague.

The 36-truck event will be contested today as part of an Indy Racing League weekend.