DARLINGTON, S.C., May 12 (UPI) -- Kasey Kahne Friday won the pole position for Saturday night's Dodge Charger 500 Nextel Cup race at Darlington, S.C.
His No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge circled the 1.366-mile oval at Darlington Raceway in 29.096 seconds (169.013 mph).
"That was just a great lap," said Kahne, who has won twice this season, both times from the pole. "The team did a great job, helping the car from what it did in practice."
The pole victory was his third of the season and ninth of his career.
Also starting on the front row will be the No.12 Penske Racing Dodge of Ryan Newman, who ran a second-best time of 29.238 seconds. Newman has yet to win a pole this season after winning eight times in 2005.
Rookies Clint Bowyer (29.259 second) and David Stremme (29.319) will be in row two.
Points leader Jimmie Johnson starts 25th.
