Gordon gets seventh career Martinsville pole

Gordon gets seventh career Martinsville pole

Seven-time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon captured the pole for Sunday afternoon’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at the famed Martinsville Speedway. The No.24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver circled the 0.526-mile short track in 19.666 seconds (96.288 m.p.h.). The pole victory was Gordon’s second of the season, seventh at Martinsville and 65th of his Sprint Cup career. He is just five pole wins behind Cale Yarborough for third all-time. “That was two of the best corners I’ve probably ever put together all at one time,” said Gordon. “You have got to be aggressive, but yet you can’t over do it…that’s a fine line…you are right on the edge of it at all times.” Starting alongside Gordon will be Denny Hamlin who posted a time of 19.775 seconds. Row two will consist of youngster Aric Almirola (19.780) and David Ragan (19.814). Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Kasey Kahne (sixth), points leader Kyle Busch (eighth), Tony Stewart (ninth), defending Goody’s Cool Orange 500 winner Jimmie Johnson (10th), Kevin Harvick (11th), Clint Bowyer (12th) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (22nd). It will be the second consecutive short track race for the Sprint Cup Series and a great place for floundering Hendrick Motorsports, the dominant force in 2007, to get back to its former level. Last year’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 was an all-Hendrick affair with Johnson edging teammate Gordon for the win. Former HMS driver Busch finished fourth. In the October event, Johnson won again, beating Ryan Newman, Gordon and Busch to the checkered flag. Miami Herald STARTING LINEUP

Date: March / 28 / 2008
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