LAS VEGAS – Cross one more item off of Jeff Gordon's NASCAR bucket list.
Gordon earned his first career pole position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Friday evening, and he set the track qualifying record in the process.
"I didn't come off the throttle much, if any," Gordon smiled. "I knew that if we were going to go get the pole, you've got to be fully committed and just go for it."
He did just that, earning his second pole position in the first three races of the 2015 season.
All three Hendrick Motorsports teammates will join him in the top 10 to start Sunday's race, led by Kasey Kahne in the No. 5 Time Warner Cable Chevrolet SS in third.
"I had a great Time Warner Cable Chevrolet right there," Kahne said. "Jeff put a heck of a lap down. I thought my lap was really solid and Jeff outdid it by a good bit there."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS qualified next in fourth and Jimmie Johnson in the No. 48 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet SS will start ninth.
"Man, that thing was so much fun to drive," Earnhardt said. "I hope it's a sign of things to come, because we've really turned around our program as far as qualifying goes."
After failing to post a qualifying time last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Gordon said this week's result spoke volumes about how the No. 24 team rallied.
"That was fun," Gordon said. "What an awesome 3M Chevrolet. What a turnaround from last week. I'm just so proud of this team in keeping their heads up."
"This is a great, great way to start our weekend here in Las Vegas."