A Quick Look At Qualifying For The Goody's Cool Orange 500

[PressRoom-GFN]

• Jeff Gordon won his second pole this season Friday at Martinsville Speedway. Gordon, driving a Chevrolet, posted a lap of 19.666 seconds, 96.288 mph. It was his seventh pole on the Sprint Cup circuit's shortest track. He also started in the No. 1 position at Martinsville in September 1995 when qualifying was canceled due to weather.
  
  
• The 65th pole of Gordon's Cup career places him fourth on the all-time pole winners list behind Richard Petty with 126, David Pearson with 112, and Cale Yarborough with 79.
  
  
• Earning the other front row starting position was Toyota driver Denny Hamlin. He recorded a 19.775-second, 95.757-mph lap. It is his fourth top-five start in six Martinsville races. This is his second top-10 start this year.
  
  
• Aric Almirola's third fastest lap – 19.780 seconds, 95.733 mph -- provided him with his first career top-10 start in the Sprint Cup Series. Previously, his best starting position was 16th, two weeks ago at Bristol.
  
  
• David Ragan was the quickest Ford, snaring the fourth starting position with a lap of 19.814 seconds, 95.569 mph.
  
  
• Kasey Kahne led the Dodge contingent with a 19.831-second, 95.487-mph lap. That gave him the sixth starting position.
  
  
• Jamie McMurray, who qualified fifth in his Roush Fenway Ford, was the fastest driver among those required to make the field on time.
  
  
• BAM Racing switched from Dodge to Toyota this week with Microsoft Small Business as its new sponsor. Ken Schrader qualified seventh in his first outing in a Toyota.
  
  
• Sam Hornish Jr. was the fastest rookie, taking the 26th position on the grid.
  
  
• Michael McDowell, who is replacing David Reutimann in the No. 00 Toyota, qualified 34th for his first career Sprint Cup race. Reutimann is replacing Dale Jarrett in the No. 44 Toyota. Jarrett drove in the last points race of his career at Bristol. His final driving appearance will be in the May 17 all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
  
  
• Failing to make the grid were Kyle Petty, John Andretti, Tony Raines, and Joe Nemechek.

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