NOTEBOOK

NOTEBOOK

NASCAR

Yeley wins first career pole: J.J. Yeley won his first career pole Friday at Michigan International Speedway. Yeley posted a lap of 38.399 seconds — at a speed of 187.505 mph — to edge Jimmie Johnson by a thousandth of a second. Kyle Busch was third at 186.829 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start Sunday’s race 23rd in the 43-car field. Ryan Newman, Joe Nemechek and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top six qualifiers. Michael Waltrip will race for just the third time in 15 races. Waltrip, a Toyota owner and driver, will be joined by only one of his two drivers because Dale Jarrett didn’t qualify and rookie David Reutimann did.

Biffle’s past, future: Greg Biffle’s past with Roush Racing and talk about his future collided at Michigan International Speedway. It was here in the Irish Hills, about 75 miles west of the Motor City, that the late Benny Parsons suggested Jack Roush add Biffle to his team about a decade ago. The reality is that Biffle could become NASCAR’s top free agent after Kyle Busch lands with a new team. Busch will be replaced by Dale Earnhardt Jr. next season by Hendrick Motorsports. Biffle said he doesn’t event want to talk a new contract because he’s ranked 19th in points.

Dodge domination: Dodge and Ford have won the last 11 races at MIS, but Elliott Sadler expects Sunday’s winner to be in a Chevrolet. Chevy hasn’t made it to the winner circle here since Jeff Gordon won in June 2001, but has won 13 of the first 14 races this year. That’s the best start for a manufacture since Chevy won nine of the first 11 races in 1995.

Associated Press