Kahne tops Newman for pole position

DARLINGTON, S.C. – Kasey Kahne drove to his second NASCAR Nextel Cup pole in three tries at Darlington Raceway, easily beating qualifying ace Ryan Newman in time tests Friday for the Dodge Charger 500.

The second-year Cup driver won the pole here last spring and finished 13th in the race. He started 13th last fall on the 1.366-mile oval and ran fifth in the final Southern 500.

“We’ve had some success here, but it’s a pretty tough track and it can bite you,” Kahne said. “It’s gotten me a couple of times. I’ve run into the wall a couple of times, but not too hard, yet.”

Kahne’s Evernham Motorsports Dodge took the fifth pole of his career with a lap of 170.024 mph. Newman, who has qualified on the pole three times and been second twice in 10 races this year, made it an all-Dodge front row for tonight’s race with a lap at 169.555.

Kahne and Newman were followed by the Fords of Greg Biffle at 169.222 and Elliott Sadler at 168.665, and the Chevrolets of Brian Vickers at 168.607 and rookie Kyle Busch at 168.089.

Series points leader Jimmie Johnson, who swept both races at Darlington in 2004, qualified ninth at 167.676. Defending series champion Kurt Busch – Kyle’s older brother and the current series runner-up – was 11th at 167.550.

Jeff Gordon, the leading active driver with six Darlington victories, was 14th. Fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a disappointing 39th.

Kenseth wins Busch race

Matt Kenseth took control in the second half of the race and pulled away to a convincing victory in the first NASCAR Busch Series event under the lights at Darlington Raceway.

The 2003 Nextel Cup champion, a part-time driver in Busch races, earned his 18th career Busch victory and first since Atlanta last October, leading 50 of the 147 laps in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 on the 1.366-mile oval. It was his second win at Darlington.

Kenseth started 24th in the 43-car field, but worked his way to the front, finally moving to the lead for the first time on lap 96. He dominated the rest of the way – leading all but two of the last 52 laps – to give team owner Jack Roush his fifth Busch victory in 11 races this season. Mark Martin has won twice and Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle once each for Roush.

On the final caution, Kenseth appeared to be heading for the pits and Jeff Burton, in sixth, followed. Kenseth suddenly veered back onto the track, retaining the lead, and Burton continued into the pits for fresh tires, falling to 10th. He charged back after the green flag on lap 141 to finish fifth, just behind Biffle.

It was eighth victory this year by a Cup regular, known as Buschwhackers.