Sadler wins NASCAR pole

BRISTOL, Tenn., April 1 (UPI) -- Elliott Sadler, whose first NASCAR victory came at the Bristol Motor Speedway, won the pole at that track Friday for the Food City 500.

Sadler will start No. 1 in Sunday's race thanks to a one-lap time of 15.022 seconds. It was only the third pole of his career and his first on a short track.

Dave Blaney turned in the second fastest time of 15.056 seconds.

Rusty Wallace qualified third and Jeff Gordon, who had won four of the previous six poles at Bristol, was fourth.

The top 10 was rounded out by Travis Kvapil, Jeff Green, Ryan Newman, Jeremy Mayfield, Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who has struggled early in the season, was 19th in qualifying and defending champion Kurt Busch was 26th.