Gordon wins 1st pole at Las Vegas in final start at track

  • By Jenna Fryer Associated Press
  • Friday, March 6, 2015 7:22pm
  • SportsSports

LAS VEGAS — Jeff Gordon, preparing for his final start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, won the pole for Sunday’s race — his first career pole at the track.

It’s the 79th pole of Gordon’s career and leaves just Kansas and Kentucky as the only active tracks where he’s yet to win a pole. Kentucky is the only track on the circuit where Gordon has not won a race.

The four-time champion is retiring at the end of this season.

Gordon turned a lap at 194.679 mph in his Chevrolet and gave a hard pump of his arm into the air as he climbed from the car. He said he was conservative in the second round of qualifying, but went for it in the final round.

“I knew that if we were going to win the pole, you have to be fully committed and just go for it,” he said. “I drove it down in there and I may have come off it a tiny bit, but it wasn’t much at all. And it stuck so good. That was fun.”

Gordon also won the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500, but he crashed at the end of that race. He was one of 13 drivers who didn’t make a qualifying attempt last week at Atlanta because their cars did not clear inspection in time. He then had a hard crash into an unprotected concrete wall in Sunday’s race.

“What a turnaround from last week,” he said of his Hendrick Motorsports team. “I am just so proud of this team and keeping their heads up and it’s just a great way to start the weekend at Las Vegas.”

Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano qualified second in a Team Penske Ford.

“We were so close,” Logano said. “I felt good about it and thought it was the fastest I had been, but Jeff laid down a really good one.”

Hendrick Motorsports-powered cars had seven of the top 12 qualifying times, and all four Hendrick drivers advanced to the final round.

Kasey Kahne qualified third and was followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Larson.

A week after inspection at Atlanta created a debacle in qualifying because so many drivers never got on the track, only one had an issue on Friday.

NASCAR pulled Brad Keselowski off the grid moments before qualifying began and sent his Ford back to inspection because an official witnessed the team pulling out the wheel opening on pit road. Team Penske had to fix the issue in the inspection bay, and Keselowski hustled out onto the track with under six minutes remaining in the first session.

Keselowski wound up 11th, but had no answers for what happened with his car and NASCAR inspectors.

“I honestly don’t know enough to speak intelligently about it, so I will let the smart guys do that part,” he said.

Gordon said there were still issues in inspection for most cars, and he needed two times to pass through. It created a backup, but he said NASCAR managed to get all the cars through before qualifying began.

“It happened again, and somehow all the cars got out there on pit road,” Gordon said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

A look at the top prep boys basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.