Richmond qualifying: Hendrick on front row again

RICHMOND, Va. (May 1, 2009) -- For the eighth time this season, a Hendrick Motorsports driver will start on the front row. Jeff Gordon will line up second in his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet for Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond International Raceway. Coverage of the Sprint Cup event starts at 7 p.m. ET on FOX on Saturday. Gordon will have started from the front row three times now this season. In 32 Cup starts at Richmond, Gordon has two wins, 12 top-five finishes and 20 top-10s. Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 Cheez-It/CARQUEST Chevrolet, will start seventh. Martin posted a top-five finish in each of the 2008 events at Richmond. Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, will start 15th. Johnson has won three of the last four Cup events at the short track. Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard - Drive the Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, will start 25th.