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Kahne Extends Run, Takes Pole

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The Associated Press

Published: June 21, 2008

SONOMA, Calif. - Kasey Kahne continued his recent hot streak Friday by winning the pole at Infineon Raceway for his best career starting position on a road course.

Kahne was the third driver to make his qualifying attempt and his lap around the twisting track at 92.153 mph was good enough to hold the top spot for the entire session. It was his second pole of the season, and second in three weeks.

It's Kahne's best start at a road course, bettering the second-place qualifying effort he made at Watkins Glen in 2006. His highest start in Sonoma was sixth that same season.

"To get the pole is always very difficult, especially at these tracks," Kahne said. "There's certain guys that seem like they are right there. We've been close here in the past, we've been close at Watkins Glen. So I felt I could make that one lap and come close to the pole and today we had a great Dodge and we were able to get it.

"I came in today thinking I had a good shot, but winning a pole at Infineon is tougher than it sounds."

Jimmie Johnson qualified second with a lap at 92.040 and Kurt Busch was third with a lap at 92.005.

Kahne has been on an incredible run since winning the All-Star race last month, backing it up with victories in the Coca-Cola 600 and two weeks ago at Pocono. He was second last week in Michigan.

Bobby Labonte qualified fourth and was followed by five-time Infineon winner Jeff Gordon, Elliott Sadler and Marcos Ambrose. Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle rounded out the top 10.

BIFFLE CLOSE TO DEAL; The guessing game surrounding Greg Biffle's future is apparently on the verge of ending with a three-year contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing.

Biffle said Friday he hopes to finalize a deal this week and announce it at next week's race at New Hampshire International Speedway.

"We're really close to having it done. I've said that for a while now. But I think we're down just to getting it signed, more than anything," Biffle said. "I think we've worked out all the infinite details on it."

NHRA: New Jersey native Antron Brown led Top Fuel qualifying Friday night in the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals with a quarter-mile run at 4.502 seconds and 326.24 mph at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Brown is seeking his second No. 1 qualifier of the season, and third at Englishtown, with his previous two at the track coming in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

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