Gordon qualifies seventh at New Hampshire

LOUDON, N.H. - Jeff Gordon picked up his eighth top-10 starting position of the 2011 season during Friday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet will start seventh, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammates round out the top 28.

Prior to this weekend, Gordon has started inside the top 10 18 times at the 1.058-mile oval, where he an average starting spot of 10.4 and an average finish of 11. Gordon and teammate Jimmie Johnson are tied for second-most in wins at New Hampshire with three apiece, while Gordon leads all drivers with 14 top-five finishes and 18 top-10s.

Mark Martin will start 24th in the field when he makes his 29th Cup start at the 1.058-mile short track on Sunday. The driver of the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet has one win, nine top-five finishes and 14 top-10s.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. picked up the 27th-fastest speed in his No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet.  In 23 Cup starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Earnhardt has scored six top-five finishes and 10 top-10s. He has led 351 laps there.

Johnson will roll of the grid 28th when the green flag drops at the New England short track. The driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet has made 18 Cup Series starts at New Hampshire, where, along with his three wins, he has earned six top-five finishes and 12 top-10s.

Watch the Hendrick Motorsports teammates compete in Sunday’s Cup race on TNT at 1 p.m. ET.