Kurt Busch wins pole at Watkins Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne did what they had to do. Greg Biffle didn't, and now faces a difficult road ahead.

Busch won his second straight road course pole on Friday, wheeling his No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge through the 11-turn Watkins Glen International course at 122.966 mph to knock Kahne (121.845 mph) to second. It was the third pole of the season for Busch and sixth of his career, and it came only moments after Biffle crashed on his qualifying try, relegating him to the back of the 43-car field.

Ryan Newman qualified third (121.642 mph), just ahead of four-time Watkins Glen winner Jeff Gordon (121.432 mph). Series leader Jimmie Johnson and Robby Gordon, who won this race in 2003, will start on the third row, Kevin Harvick and defending race champion Tony Stewart will go seventh and eighth, Kyle Busch and rookie Denny Hamlin round out the top 10, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will go 11th.