NASCAR Cup Series

Jeff Gordon leads Charlotte qualifying

Published Oct. 15, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Jeff Gordon recovered from a poor practice session in the daylight to post the fastest lap once night fell at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday to capture the pole for Saturday's Sprint Cup race.

Gordon, in fourth place in the points standings, had a speed of 191.544 mph. He barely held off Carl Edwards, who will start second Saturday night after a lap of 191.455 mph.

AJ Allmendinger qualified third, followed by Mark Martin, Paul Menard and Kyle Busch.

Jimmie Johnson, the points leader who's seeking a fifth straight Sprint Cup title, will start 10th.

Gordon seemed surprised when he posted such a quick lap as he went out 23rd out of 49 cars and after sunset. Gordon was 33rd in the afternoon practice when track conditions were much different.

''Yeah baby!'' Gordon yelled through his radio. ''So proud of you guys.''

Gordon's misfortune getting his car to handle on the hot track worked to his advantage in the cooler conditions.

''I flew through (Turns) 3 and 4. I was not expecting that, I tell you,'' said Gordon, who trails his teammate Johnson by 85 points. ''This track changes so much at night when it cools down. I'm glad we didn't figure it out in practice.''

Denny Hamlin, who enters the weekend in second place and 36 points behind Johnson, qualified 23rd. Kevin Harvick, who is 54 points back, will start 24th on Saturday night.

Reed Sorenson qualified seventh, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Elliott Sadler.

The drivers who made the field after needing to get in on qualifying times included Bill Elliott, Patrick Carpentier, Michael McDowell, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Green, David Gilliland, Landon Cassill and J.J. Yeley.

Joe Nemechek, Mike Bliss, Kevin Conway, Jason Leffler, Casey Mears and Johnny Sauter failed to make the race.

Ryan Newman, who captured his ninth pole at the track in the spring, had an early wiggle in his lap and qualified 11th.

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