NASCAR: Jeff Gordon Breaks Qualifying Records

Jeff Gordon breaks qualifying records by standing on the top at the end of the day, according to Inquisitr.

Gordon, driver of the No. 24 car turned a qualifying lap of 130.599 mph at Richmond International Raceway on Friday. The time earned him his 73^rd career pole position and the first one this year. His new pole position will definitely help him as he attempts to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The four-time series champion has one race left to make it.

Due to Gordon's blistering lap, Kurt Busch was moved to the outside of the front row. The qualifying results will make for a tough slowdown, as Busch is 10^th in points as of late. Gordo is six points behind in 11^th and will need to pass Busch or one of the other drivers in the top to make the Chase.

The top 10 NASCAR qualifiers for Richmond include Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Joey Lagano, Greg Biffle and Regan Smith. Smith is filling in for Jimmie Johnson in the No. 48 after the Hendrick driver's wife gave birth to the couple's second daughter on Friday. Despite taking a week off from the track, Johnson won't have to worry about his Chase chances.

The five-time champion has already clinched his spot and is first in points. Gordon's poll allowed him to keep his streak of 21 seasons with a poll position alive. He currently has the longest streak of any other driver in NASCAR history. Gordon commented afterward that he wasn't sure he would get a pole position this year. He explained, "Qualifying has not been very good for me and for our team this year. Very proud of this one."