Kahne Moving Up the Charts

Add the name of Kasey Kahne to the list of former U.S. Auto Club open-wheel driving champions, such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, who have moved into NASCAR to uproot the old-time stock car hierarchy.

Kahne became the first rookie to win a pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when he tooled one of Ray Evernham’s Dodges to a track-record 174.904 mph Friday, gaining the No. 1 spot for Sunday’s UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400-mile Nextel Cup race.

It was a day of record breaking as 15 drivers bettered Bobby Labonte’s year-old record of 173.016 in Cup qualifying, and 11 Busch series drivers bettered Matt Kenseth’s 2001 record for today’s Sam’s Town 300.

Kahne notched his first pole less than two weeks after finishing second to Matt Kenseth in the Subway 400 at Rockingham, N.C. And he did it at only his third Nextel Cup race, tying Mark Martin and Newman for the quickest that a driver has won a pole in the modern era.

“I screwed up the first lap a little bit -- I think I scared myself -- but I made it up on the second lap,” an elated Kahne said. “I spun the tires a little bit getting up to speed. I kind of overdrove Turn 1. I had to touch the brakes real quick to get it to turn.

“On the second lap, Turns 3 and 4 felt perfect. It’s fun to drive a car like that. It was a great feeling.”

Kahne, who will turn 24 April 10, began his career in micro midgets around his home in Enumclaw, Wash. He drove USAC midgets, sprint cars and Silver Crown cars for Steve Lewis before moving into NASCAR.

Rounding out his memorable day, he was also third in Busch qualifying. His speed of 171.048 was bettered only by Mike Bliss’ record pole speed of 171.238 and Bobby Hamilton Jr.’s 171.084. Bliss drove a Chevrolet, Hamilton a Ford.

Kurt Busch, who learned to drive on short tracks around his native Las Vegas, was second fastest in Nextel Cup at 174.548 in a Jack Roush-prepared Ford.

“It would have been awesome to win the pole here,” Busch said. “It’s Vegas. I love coming here. I’m just elated and honored to race with my little brother here.”

Kyle Busch, 18, qualified 18th for his first Cup start, driving a Chevrolet. Another rookie, Brian Vickers, was third at 174.537, also in a Chevy.

Dodges had a big day. Six qualified in the top 10, with Bill Elliott 10th in his first Cup start this year.

Elliott was running a new Evernham-designed chassis, one that he tested here earlier this year.

Brendan Gaughan, a third candidate for rookie of the year and another Las Vegas native, qualified eighth in one of Roger Penske’s Dodges.

“I love being at home,” Gaughan said. “I actually get cheers. We had a little meeting after practice. We rolled the dice, and that’s what Vegas is all about. It was an awesome run.”

Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon is down in 20th place after losing speed when his Chevrolet pancaked the fourth-turn wall. If his DuPont crew is unable to complete repairs, the 2001 race winner will have to start at the rear in a backup car.

“That’s what happens when you give up the first lap,” Gordon said. “The tires, the way they work, you give up a little bit of momentum.

“That second lap is really the one you’re looking for. I went down into [Turns] 1 and 2 and the car got loose on me there. Probably trying too hard to make up time. It got loose and hurt the car pretty bad. It hit hard with the right rear. I hope the guys can fix it. Right now we think they can.”