Gilliland wins first career pole

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- David Gilliland had to fight to get NASCAR approval to race at Talladega Superspeedway.

That battle two months ago was worth it.

Gilliland won the pole Saturday, posting a lap of 191.712 mph in his Robert Yates Racing Ford. His speed was far off the 198.689 that Jeff Gordon posted during practice, but NASCAR mandated smaller restrictor plates to slow the speeds before today's race.

The No. 38 Ford will be starting from the pole for the third consecutive race. Elliott Sadler took the top starting spot in the same car last October and again in May.

But Sadler opted out of his contract with Yates, and moved to a new ride with Evernham Motorsports eight races ago. It opened the seat for Gilliland, who had never raced on a superspeedway before and had to get clearance from NASCAR to race here this weekend in just his ninth career start.

He got it right before his debut at Michigan, and will now lead the field to the green flag today.

Dale Jarrett, the defending race winner and Gilliland's temporary teammate, will start second. He's leaving RYR at the end of the season.