http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard ... eID=172629

Burton edges Sadler for pole at MIS

Brooklyn, MI (Sports Network) - Jeff Burton grabbed the pole for Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400 at the Michigan International Speedway. The No.31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet driver posted a time of 38.311 seconds (187.936 m.p.h.).

The pole victory was Burton's series-leading fourth of the season (tied with Kasey Kahne) and sixth of his Nextel Cup career.

"I'm really impressed with everybody on this team," said Burton. "If they can get me four poles in one year that's a remarkable feat.

"I also really want to thank (Kevin) Harvick, he sent word down to me that the track had a lot of grip...and that was beneficial because I drove much harder than I would have driven."

Starting on the front row with Burton will be Elliott Sadler who circled the two-mile oval in 38.488 seconds. Sadler was driving the No.19 Evernham Dodge for the first time after leaving the No.38 Robert Yates Racing Ford earlier in the week.

Matt Kenseth (38.543) and Ryan Newman (38.544) will make up row two.

"It was a great lap, they made some great adjustments and picked up a lot of speed," said Kenseth.

With races before the "Chase" dwindling down to just four, there are at least 12 drivers fighting for eight remaining spots.

Series points leader Jimmie Johnson and Kenseth are shoo-ins for two positions.

Harvick, starting fifth, is the hottest driver in Nextel Cup after capturing the AMD at the Glen on Sunday. It was Harvick's first road course win and his second victory of 2006 driving for resurgent Richard Childress Racing. Over the past six races, "Happy" has posted nothing but top-10s to climb from 10th place all the way to third place overall.

The remainder of the top-five, RCR's Burton (16 consecutive top-15s) and Kyle Busch (one win and five top-10s in last six starts) are in good shape but certainly not comfortable with their position.

The bottom half of the top-10, Martin, defending series champion Tony Stewart, rookie Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. can not afford even a single slip up.

Waiting to pounce on any error are 11th-place Kahne (-54 points behind Earnhardt Jr.) and Kurt Busch (-172 points). Busch should be much closer but a bad ruling by NASCAR officials may have cost him a weekend sweep and up to 74 points in the standings.

Other notable drivers and their starting positions: Hamlin (ninth), Gordon (12th), Martin (14th), Kurt Busch (16th), Earnhardt Jr. (17th) and Carl Edwards (20th).

The race is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (et).


That's my boy