Yeley wins first career Nextel Cup pole

BROOKLYN, Mich., June 15 (UPI) -- J.J. Yeley won the pole Friday for Sunday's running of the Citizens Bank 400 at the Michigan International Speedway.

Yeley ended a streak of three straight poles won by Ryan Newman. It was the first pole of Yeley's Nextel Cup career and it came thanks to a lap of 38.399 seconds around the 2-mile oval.

Defending series champion Jimmie Johnson was just .001 of a second behind Yeley. Kyle Busch qualified third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Series points leader Jeff Gordon will start sixth after having won last week's rain-shortened race in Pennsylvania.