Vickers Takes Pole at Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Brian Vickers turned a lap at 127.131 mph
to win the pole position for Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series race at Richmond International Raceway.
    Vickers was the 10th car on the track in qualifying Friday
night, and his speed held up as notable short-track qualifiers Jeff
Gordon and Denny Hamlin made runs at him.
    Gordon got the closest at 126.844 mph, but was forced to settle
for the outside of the front row. Hamlin will start third after a
lap at 126.665, with Martin Truex Jr. fourth.
    The pole is the seventh of Vickers’ career and second this
season. He also started first in the second race at Fontana, Calif.
It also is his second at Richmond.