NASCAR : Dodge has big day

What was a bounty for Dodge was a nightmare for Toyota in Friday’s qualifying for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Kasey Kahne scorched this renovated track with a lap at 184.856 mph to grab the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race, as Dodge drivers claimed six of the top seven starting spots.

In stark contrast to Dodge’s success was the failure of five of seven Toyota drivers to make the race. Dave Blaney provided the only highlight for the manufacturer, with a lap at 181.775 mph, good for the 11th starting spot.

Kahne went out late in the session and bettered by nearly 10 miles per hour the track record of 174.904 mph he set in 2004, when the banking in the corners at LVMS was 12 degrees – not the 20 degrees in its new configuration.

“I’m glad I don’t have to give up the record yet,” Kahne said. “We knew there’d be more grip when the sun went down, and we were just trying to get the car to turn through the corners.”

David Stremme will start on the outside of the front row after a lap at 184.193 mph. Kahne’s teammate, Elliott Sadler (183.874 mph), starts third, and rookie Juan Pablo Montoya (183.187 mph), buoyed by his Busch Series victory last Sunday in Mexico City, lines up fourth. Chevy driver Jeff Burton (182.976 mph) prevented a Dodge sweep of the top five.

Mixed reviews for track

Changes to Las Vegas Motor Speedway received mixed reviews after a bumpy opening at the track.

The track was overhauled during the off-season, with the surface repaved and the banking increased from 12 degrees to 20 in a project speedway owner Bruton Smith believes will improve the quality of racing.

But after speeds in the January test reached levels two-time champion Tony Stewart deemed “ridiculous,” NASCAR threw the teams a curve by mandating the use of a smaller gas tank. Goodyear followed by issuing harder left-side tires that the drivers seem to loathe.

Martin rumors swirl

Mark Martin admitted that he conducted a private test session last weekend for the Nextel Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 25.

“We had a big cookout with friends at my house and watched the Busch race from Mexico City on television,” Martin said.

Once again, Martin said he has no plans to run any of the races he originally planned to skip as part of a limited schedule with Ginn Racing. That plan has been called into question with Martin on top of the Cup standings.

“I chased that Cup for nearly 20 years,” Martin said. “At this point, I have put that behind me. I haven’t had a change of heart and I don’t expect to.”

Unser acquitted

Misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and obstructing an officer have been dropped against three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser, who was arrested along with his brother during a fracas at a roadblock in August in Albuquerque, N.M.

Unser and his brother, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Sr., were arrested Aug. 9 after deputies cordoned off a road named for the famous racing family. Deputies contended the brothers tried to get around the roadblock and ignored orders to leave the area, where authorities had cornered an armed carjacking suspect.