NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Kahne Captures Vegas Pole
Kasey Kahne was the fastest of 45 cars that set qualifying times at Las Vegas Motor Speedway...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted March 09, 2012   Las Vegas, NV
Kasey Kahne, who has had a rough start to the 2012 season, saw his fortunes improve Friday, when he took the pole for the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, setting a new track record in the process.

For the first time, the 190 mile-per-hour threshold was crossed at the 1.5-mile track.

Kahne, who has not had much luck so far this season, ran 190.456 mph in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to win his 23rd career pole and his first with his new team.

“It was a good run and the Hendrick engine runs so well it pulls you there,” said Kahne. “That was a good lap. It was faster in practice today. We did a lot of race trim stuff and then we made a couple of runs right at the end. And I was a little tight right there, actually. I didn’t feel perfect, but I was on the gas and these Hendrick engines run so well. I felt good about it but it definitely wasn’t a perfect lap.”

Right behind Kahne was hometown favorite Kyle Busch, who will start from the outside of Row 1 after running a lap of 190.040 mph in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

“It would be a whole lot better if I was about six one-hundredths faster then we'd be on the pole,” said Busch. “That would certainly feel good. ... There's added pressure on just from myself or feeling like you really want to run well here in front of the hometown crowd and being able to go out there and be successful here.”

On Row 2 are the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick, who at 190.014 mph was the last man to break the 190 mph barrier, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a second Hendrick Chevrolet.

“Usually when we qualify that close to the front, it’s usually going to be a great weekend,” said Harvick. “It should be a lot of fun.”

Earnhardt was delighted with his fourth-place effort.

“We showed up really good off the trailer and we were real good with our speed and real happy,” he said. “The run was a good run. I’m pretty happy with how we ended up. We struggled in qualifying last year and wanted to work on that this year and this is a good result, so hopefully we’re making some gains there.”

Clint Bowyer was next in a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, followed by Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr.

With three cars in the top six, Hendrick Motorsports will be in good position for one of its drivers to earn the team’s 200th career victory on Sunday. Kahne, who has 12 career Cup victories, would like nothing better than to add to that total on Sunday.

“I’d rather have 23 wins than 23 poles, but it is what it is,” said Kahne.

The Ford contingent, on the other hand, went away disappointed, with Biffle the only Ford pilot in the top 10. “I’m a little disappointed,” said Biffle. “Maybe I held it out a little too long getting into turn three, but it didn’t seem like it wanted to turn to the bottom. That’s where I lost my time.”

Timmy Hill qualified for his first Sprint Cup race, while Robby Gordon and Scott Riggs failed to qualify.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.
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