Johnson wins pole for NASCAR race

CONCORD, N.C., Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Points leader Jimmie Johnson, hoping to take command of the Chase for the Championship, grabbed the pole Thursday for Saturday's NASCAR Banking 500.

Johnson, trying to become the first driver to win the series championship four straight years, took the points lead last Sunday in California.

He backed up that victory by turning in a lap of 192.376 mph at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. It was the fastest qualifying lap in the three years since NASCAR introduced major changes in the cars used for its Sprint Cup series.

Johnson won his third pole of the season and the 22nd of his NASCAR career.

He will enter the fifth of 10 playoff races with a 12-point lead over teammate Mark Martin.

Martin had the second-fastest qualifying lap Thursday, followed by Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart.