FONTANA, Calif., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Kurt Busch edged Jimmie Johnson by .001 of a second Friday to capture the pole for Sunday's Sharp Aquos 500 at California Speedway.
Busch won his first pole of the year with a lap of 39.474 seconds at the two-mile oval.
Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman finished third and fourth.
Sunday's race will be the next-to-last event of the regular NASCAR season. Five drivers have clinched a spot in the 12-car chase for the championship -- Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards.
Johnson, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer are on the verge of wrapping up positions in the chase.
Five drivers are battling for the final two spots, with Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex and Kurt Busch holding down positions 10 through 12.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Newman are trying to battle their way into the final 12.
