Gordon takes third during Pocono qualifying session

LONG POND, Pa. – Jeff Gordon led his Hendrick Motorsports teammates in Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying session at Pocono Raceway and picked up the third starting position. 

Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, has made 36 Cup starts at Pocono and earned four wins, 16 top-five finishes and 25 top-10s there. 

Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 Farmers Insurance/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, will start 10th on Sunday. In 48 Cup starts at the triangular track, Martin has scored 19 top-five finishes, 33 top-10s and taken the runner-up honors six times. 

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, scored the 14th starting spot. The last time Johnson started 14th at Pocono in August 2004, he led 124 laps and went to Victory Lane. Overall, Johnson has earned two wins, six top-five finishes and 12 top-10s during his 18 Cup appearances at the 2.5-mile track.  

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will roll off the grid 21st in his No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet on Sunday. In 22 Cup starts at Pocono, he has earned five top-five finishes, six top-10s and led 98 laps.

Watch the Hendrick Motorsports teammates compete in the 500-mile Pocono Cup event Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on TNT.