Jimmie Johnson closes in on title

AVONDALE, Ariz., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson, closing in on his third straight points championship, won the pole Friday for Sunday's running of the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Johnson has won the last two Sprint Cup races held at the Phoenix International Raceway. He turned in a lap time of 26.721 seconds at the one-mile track. It was Johnson's sixth pole of the season and the 19th of his Sprint Cup career.

With two races to go in the, "Chase for the Championship," Johnson has a 106-point lead over second-place Carl Edwards.

If Johnson can boost that lead to 196 points after Sunday's race, he will have clinched the 2008 championship with one race remaining. A third straight Sprint Cup title would tie the series record for most championships in a row.

Edwards qualified 15th for Sunday's race. Jamie McMurray will start second, followed by Kurt Busch and David Reutimann.