BRISTOL, Tenn., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Jeff Gordon continued his charge toward a fifth Nextel Cup championship by winning Friday's pole position for the Sharpie 500.
Under the hot Tennessee sun, Gordon blistered the 0.533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway short track in 14.930 seconds (128.520 m.p.h.). It is his sixth pole victory of the season and 70th of his "Cup" career.
Gordon has scored seven top-10 finishes in the last eight races to take the championship lead from his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson. His 17 top-10 finishes are the most of any driver this season.
Gordon also won last year's pole but an accident left him with a 28th-place result.
Starting on the front row with Gordon will be rookie Kasey Kahne (15.060). Sterling Marlin (15.074) and Ryan Newman (15.075 will start in row two .
