Phoenix II: GM Racing qualifying notes

Avondale, AZ - Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Monte Carlo SS, claimed his second pole of the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series (NNCS) season today at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). The number one starting spot for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 is the 56th of his career and his second at PIR.

It is an all-Chevy top-five starters for the 312-lap race with Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Reese's Cookie Monte Carlo SS lining up along side Gordon. Row two will be No. 25, Brian Vickers, No. 25 GMAC Monte Carlo SS with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 8 Budweiser Monte Carlo SS outside in the fourth starting spot.

Rounding out the top-five is Joe Nemechek, No. 01 U.S. Army Monte Carlo SS. Kyle Busch, No. 5 Kellogg's Monte Carlo SS will roll-off ninth, the inside of row five.

The 312-lap/312-mile/500 kilometer race is scheduled to start at 1:25 p.m. MDT on Sunday. Live television coverage will be provided by NBC TV. Both MRN Radio and XM Satellite Radio will bring live lap-by-lap over the airwaves.

-credit: gm racing