Johnson earns outside pole, Kahne to also start in top 10 at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. – At Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR introduced a new group style of qualifying, and it caused some confusion as both groups in the first round tried to figure out the appropriate strategy for the best times.

The varying strategies were on display in the results of the Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon did not advance out of the first round, while Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson made it to the third and final round.

Johnson ultimately qualified second, leading his teammates to the green flag from the outside pole position.

"What a weird qualifying session," Johnson said. "I don't know what happened exactly, but it worked out well. We got ourselves a second-place starting position."

Kahne was next in eighth place, giving the organization two top-10 starters.

Earnhardt will begin Sunday’s race 29th and Gordon will roll off the grid 42nd.

“I messed up, ultimately. I just mistimed getting to the line,” Gordon explained. “It’s one of those things where I just tried to time it, and the way they were counting it down, I thought we had enough time to get to the line. I just misjudged it.”

“It’s a mess out there. It’s not easy.”

Below is a recap of how the four drivers fared in Saturday’s qualifying session.

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE CHEVROLET SS
Qualified: 8th
Best speed: 193.498 mph
Best time: 49.489 sec.
Average start at Talladega: 24.0

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 AXALTA HUNGER CHEVROLET SS
Qualified: 42nd
Best speed: 176.532 mph
Best time: 54.245 sec.
Average start at Talladega: 11.6

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS
Qualified: 2nd
Best speed: 195.732 mph
Best time: 48.924 sec.
Average start at Talladega: 10.5

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 DIET MOUNTAIN DEW CHEVROLET SS
Qualified: 29th
Best speed: 191.134 mph
Best time: 50.101 sec.
Average start at Talladega: 15.7