NASCAR: Johnson Grabs Kansas Pole

Ryan Newman will have to start from the rear of the field after his Dodge qualified second but the car failed inspection because the roof was too low.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - If past results are any sign, Jimmie Johnson's chances of a repeat series championship keep looking better and better.

The reigning 2006 champ won the Bud Pole for the LifeLock 400 with a speed of 175.063 miles per hour. In the process, he became the first to win back-to-back poles in the seven-race history of Kansas Speedway.

Johnson's previous Kansas pole victory was somewhat soured by a 14th place finish in the Banquet 400.

While the results weren't spectacular, he still left feeling Kansas was a great track for him.

"Looking at the lineup of tracks in the Chase, I think all 10 are strong for me and I have been excited to come back to Kansas," Johnson said.

Johnson's second time around at Kansas Speedway carries just as much importance.

He currently sits in third place in the Chase standings, four points behind leader Jeff Gordon, as he heads into Sunday's race.

Ryan Newman will have to start from the rear of the field after his Dodge qualified second but the car failed inspection because the roof was too low.

LifeLock 400 Lineup:

POS CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR SPEED TIME BEHIND

1. 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 175.063 30.846

2. 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DEWALT 174.283 30.984 -0.138

3. 10 Scott Riggs Dodge Valvoline / Stanley Tools 173.964 31.041 -0.195

4. 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 173.695 31.089 -0.243

5. 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet FedEx Freight 173.684 31.091 -0.245

6. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser 173.633 31.100 -0.254

7. 16 Greg Biffle Ford Aflac 173.617 31.103 -0.257

8. 5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet CARQUEST / Kellogg's 173.483 31.127 -0.281

9. 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker 173.455 31.132 -0.286

10. 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel's 173.338 31.153 -0.307

11. 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts 172.983 31.217 -0.371

12. 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 172.916 31.229 -0.383

13. 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota UPS 172.756 31.258 -0.412

14. 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target / Lysol 172.623 31.282 -0.436

15. 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW 172.557 31.294 -0.448

16. 25 Casey Mears Chevrolet National Guard / GMAC 172.463 31.311 -0.465

17. 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil 172.458 31.312 -0.466

18. 6 David Ragan* Ford AAA Insurance 172.436 31.316 -0.470

19. 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Ryobi Lithium / Home Depot 172.386 31.325 -0.479

20. 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal 172.353 31.331 -0.485

21. 42 Juan Montoya* Dodge Texaco / Havoline 172.062 31.384 -0.538

22. 38 David Gilliland Ford M&M's 172.046 31.387 -0.541

23. 15 Paul Menard* Chevrolet Johns Manville / Menards 171.734 31.444 -0.598

24. 78 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing 171.717 31.447 -0.601

25. 00 David Reutimann* Toyota Dominos.com 171.576 31.473 -0.627

26. 36 Jeremy Mayfield Toyota 360 OTC 171.576 31.473 -0.627

27. 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot 171.467 31.493 -0.647

28. 49 John Andretti Dodge LifeLock 171.450 31.496 -0.650

29. 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW 171.439 31.498 -0.652

30. 70 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet Yellow Trans. 171.434 31.499 -0.653

31. 18 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet Interstate Batteries 171.429 31.500 -0.654

32. 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker 171.287 31.526 -0.680

33. 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Wells Fargo 171.119 31.557 -0.711

34. 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet AT&T Mobility 171.016 31.576 -0.730

35. 21 Ken Schrader Ford Little Debbie 170.989 31.581 -0.735

36. 40 David Stremme Dodge Energizer e2 Lithium 170.428 31.685 -0.839

37. 66 Jeff Green+ Chevrolet Garmin / Best Buy 169.956 31.773 -0.927

38. 88 Kenny Wallace+ Ford Snickers 169.492 31.860 -1.014

39. 01 Mark Martin+ Chevrolet U.S. Army 169.449 31.868 -1.022

40. 96 Tony Raines+ Chevrolet DLP HDTV 169.253 31.905 -1.059

41. 7 Robby Gordon+ Ford Camping World / Winegard - - -

42. 12 Ryan Newman+ Dodge ALLTEL 174.893 30.876 -0.030

43. 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar 171.113 31.558 -0.712

Did Not Qualify

44. 84 A.J. Allmendinger* Toyota Red Bull 170.946 31.589 -0.743

45. 4 Ward Burton Chevrolet Lucas Oil / State Water Heaters 170.859 31.605 -0.759

46. 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull 170.331 31.703 -0.857

47. 147 Jon Wood Ford Little Debbie Nutty Bars 170.309 31.707 -0.861

+ Set by Owner Points

* Denotes Rookie

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