McMurray wins pole for NASCAR race

By Reid Spencer

Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

FONTANA, Calif.

Jamie McMurray’s phenomenal season regained momentum Friday, as the driver of the No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet earned his second Coors Light Pole Award of the year at Auto Club Speedway.

McMurray streaked around the 2-mile track in 38.859 seconds (185.285 mph) to win his fourth pole of the season and the seventh of his career. Elliott Sadler (184.407 mph) claimed the second starting position for Sunday’s Pepsi Max 400.

Third-place qualifier Matt Kenseth (184.096 mph), whose last NASCAR Sprint Cup win came at Fontana in February 2009, was the only Chase driver in the top five. McMurray’s teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya (184.068 mph) claimed the fourth spot on the grid, followed Kasey Kahne (183.964 mph).

McMurray believes the power in his Earnhardt-Childress Racing engines has made a difference this year.

“I think the ECR engines have a lot of power, and you’re able to show that on Friday more than even in the race, because you’re really able to put the power down in qualifying,” said McMurray, the winner of the 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.

“A little bit is cars, a little bit is engines, a little bit is the team putting maybe a little more focus — our guys work really hard, not necessarily on the qualifying setup, but everything that goes into qualifying, making the cars as light as you can and so many little tricks that you’re able to do. Not all the teams do that to the fullest level.”

Martin Truex Jr., Greg Biffle, Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joey Logano will start from positions six through 10, respectively.