Vickers Edges Martin, Extends Pole Streak to Three at Michigan

Vickers has won the pole for three consecutive Michigan races, most recently in June.

"I'd probably give up every one of them for a win," Vickers said after turning a lap of 187.242 mph.

The Michigan race winner in June, Mark Martin, qualified second, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr.

With four races to go before the Chase for the Championship, Vickers was 14th in the series points standings -- 96 points out of the 12th-place cutoff.

"I know we can get in the chase," Vickers said. "It doesn't mean we will. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, and we can't make any mistakes."

It was a wild qualifying ride for Martin, whose car was so loose it was hard to hang on to -- but fast.

"This place is easy to drive," Martin said. "But my car wasn't."

It was a good result for Montoya, but he seemed to be slightly disappointed.

"I think it is OK," Montoya said. "It wasn't the fastest lap -- like, 'Wow!' -- but it is what it is. Can't change it."

Chase contenders Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne qualified in the top 10 -- but Kahne will have to start Sunday's race at the back of the pack because his team changed engines.

"Track position will hurt us early, but it's a long race and there is plenty of room to pass out here," Kahne said.

Series points leader Tony Stewart qualified 18th. Carl Edwards qualified 32nd, worst of the top 12 drivers. Another driver trying to scramble back into the chase, Kyle Busch, qualified 39th.

Tony Raines failed to make the race.

Vickers said he likes his chances of making the Chase, given the speed he has shown at Michigan and his decent feel for upcoming tracks Bristol, Atlanta and Richmond.

"I feel good about it," Vickers said. "We're under 100 points with four races to go and we're headed upwards, not downwards. We've got the momentum headed the right direction."

Starting lineup

1. (83) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 187.242.

2. (5) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 187.013.

3. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 186.819.

4. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 186.432.

5. (1) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 186.263.

6. (2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 186.157.

7. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 185.912.

8. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 185.85.

9. (21) Bill Elliott, Ford, 185.806.

10. (9) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 185.782.

11. (82) Scott Speed, Toyota, 185.778.

12. (25) Brad Keselowski, Chevrolet, 185.73.

13. (44) A.J. Allmendinger, Dodge, 185.634.

14. (77) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 185.577.

15. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 185.486.

16. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 185.448.

17. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 185.385.

18. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 185.309.

19. (26) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 185.266.

20. (12) David Stremme, Dodge, 185.057.

21. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 184.938.

22. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 184.871.

23. (33) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 184.587.

24. (7) Robby Gordon, Toyota, 184.303.

25. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 184.186.

26. (47) Marcos Ambrose, Toyota, 184.171.

27. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 183.974.

28. (09) Mike Bliss, Dodge, 183.941.

29. (34) John Andretti, Chevrolet, 183.894.

30. (55) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 183.753.

31. (00) David Reutimann , Toyota, 183.702.

32. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 183.496.

33. (96) Bobby Labonte, Ford, 183.29.

34. (19) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 183.253.

35. (98) Paul Menard, Ford, 183.22.

36. (71) David Gilliland, Chevrolet, 183.173.

37. (6) David Ragan, Ford, 182.964.

38. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 182.866.

39. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 182.746.

40. (43) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 182.315.

41. (66) Dave Blaney, Toyota, 182.274.

42. (07) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, Owner Points.

43. (36) Mike Skinner, Toyota, 181.708.

Failed to Qualify

44. (37) Tony Raines, Dodge.