NASCAR ROUNDUP \ News and notes

Busch wins pole: Kurt Busch won the pole Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, putting him in perfect position for a season-sweep at his favorite race track. Busch ran a qualifying lap at 124.906 mph to put his No. 2 Dodge out front for Saturday night's race. He beat Jeff Burton, who turned a lap at 124.808 to qualify second. Busch has won five of the past nine races in Bristol, including the March event when he bumped former teammate Matt Kenseth out of his way to score the win. But he's never started on the pole before -- his previous best starting position was fifth in his 2003 victory when he drove for Roush Racing. Bobby Labonte qualified third and was followed by Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and rookie Denny Hamlin. Kevin Harvick, Kyle Petty, Elliott Sadler and rookie Reed Sorenson rounded out the top 10. Chase for the championship contender Jeff Gordon was 13th, ahead of Mark Martin (15th), points leader Jimmie Johnson (18th) and Kyle Busch (19th).
Blaney has ride for '07: Bill Davis Racing shored up its 2007 lineup, with Dave Blaney and Jeremy Mayfield driving Toyotas next season. Mayfield, fired earlier this month from Evernham Motorsports, will drive the No. 36 Camry. It will be sponsored by 360 OTC, a brand of over-the-counter pain remedies. Blaney will drive the No. 22 for a second consecutive season. He also drove for BDR during the 2000-01 seasons. Putting the package together marks a comeback for Davis, who has struggled in the three years since Dodge ended its factory support of his program. Toyota is making its Nextel Cup debut next year with three different teams. Team Red Bull will have two cars and Michael Waltrip will field three.
Gordon has concerns: Jeff Gordon took his first spin in NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow earlier this week, and he didn't exactly love the ride. Gordon participated in Monday's CoT test at Michigan International Speedway, his first time in the car that will be phased into competition beginning next season. "I have some concerns, there's no doubt about that," he said. "I feel like it's a work in progress, they've come a long way with the car. But I feel like we still have a ways to go." Gordon took his complaints to NASCAR officials following the test. One of his issues is the way the car will be phased in -- 16 races in 2007, more the next year and then the full Nextel Cup schedule in 2009. But Gordon would like the project put off until 2008, when the car can be used for the entire schedule.
Associated Press
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.