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Auto Club 500 - California Speedway
Gordon California Dreaming, Claims Back-to-Back Wins
California Pole Position Goes to Rookie Kahne
Jeff Gordon liked victory lane so much last week that he thought he should do it again, this time without the boos and fan-thrown debris. Gordon won his second consecutive race, taking the checkered flag for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway, this time with cheers and fanfare. Gordon cruised to win by a margin of 12.871 seconds over teammate Jimmie Johnson after his closest challengers either stopped for fuel or ran out. Gordon led five times for 81 laps in the event, leading the most laps for the second time in the 2004 season. The victory is the 66th career win for Gordon and third at the California Speedway; it is also the 19th time in his career that he has won back-to-back races. Johnson was fifth in the running order as the white flag flew but finished second when the drivers ahead of him suffered fuel woes. Ryan Newman finished in the third position, while defending series champion Matt Kenseth finished fourth. Bobby Labonte coasted to a fifth-place finish after running out of gas on the final lap.
Kasey Kahne grabbed the pole position for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. The rookie Kahne will start from the top spot on Sunday after turning a quick qualifying lap in 38.515 seconds, at an average speed of 186.940 mph. The pole is the third of the season for Kahne in only his 10th Nextel Cup start. “Front Row” Joe Nemechek lived up to his nickname on Friday afternoon, qualifying in the outside pole position on the front row of the starting grid. Jeff Green will roll off from the third position, while Scott Riggs and Brendan Gaughan make out the top-five starting spots.
