Harvick wins Talladega pole on Earnhardt's birthday

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Kevin Harvick marked the birthday of the late Dale Earnhardt by winning the pole Friday at Talladega Superspeedway.

It was the third Nextel Cup pole for Harvick, who moved into Earnhardt's seat at Richard Childress Racing a week after the seven-time NASCAR champion was killed in the 2001 Daytona 500.

"Obviously, it's really special for everybody at RCR and the whole GM Goodwrench crew," Harvick said. "Hopefully, we can open a new chapter in the long book of history that Dale and everybody at RCR have shared here and get a win on Sunday."

Earnhardt, who would have been 54 on Friday, won nine races at Talladega, making Childress the winningest car owner to compete here. Harvick has two second-place finishes in eight starts on the 2.66-mile track.

Harvick picked up considerably from his practice speeds Friday with a qualifying lap of 189.804 mph that was virtually unchallenged. Jeff Gordon was next at 188.988, putting Chevrolets on the front row for the Aaron's 499.

"I think when you go back and look at most of the restrictor-plate races, we usually make one run and try not to overwork our motor," Harvick explained. "That's always been the philosophy of [crew chief] Todd Berrier, to run as few laps as possible.

"We put everything we think we have on the car, and that's pretty much what we've got. There's no reason to beat a dead horse."

Harvick was particularly happy with Friday's showing, considering he was driving a new car.

Gordon has won three of the last four races at Talladega and Daytona, the two tracks where NASCAR requires the horsepower-sapping carburetor restrictor plates to slow the cars.

He said missing the pole Friday was not a big disappointment.

"I don't know where those guys found that speed, but I'm happy with second," Gordon said. "We won this race here last year in this car."

Elliott Sadler was third in a Ford at 188.548, followed by Scott Riggs in a Chevy at 188.474 and Ryan Newman in a Dodge at 188.237. Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, the series points leader, was sixth at 188.226.