NASCAR Cup Series

As the 20th driver to take time in qualifying on Friday afternoon – due in part to a practice time that was only 27th...

For the 29th time in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, and the first time at Texas Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson will lead the 43 car field to the green flag in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET, POLE WINNER: WERE YOU MEDITATING, USING THE FORCE OR SOMETHING STAYING IN YOUR CAR? "I was just watching everybody go by and catch a glimpse of the Jumbotron over there and see where they pop up on the board. I've watched more interviews where a guy climbs out of a race car to a microphone, and just at that point in time, they fall to second."

Jimmie Johnson captured the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway with a lap of 191.076 MPH (28.261 SECS). Johnson also captured the pole last week at Martinsville and won the race.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Snickers Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Starting Position: 3rd Where did you make the biggest improvements in qualifying? "About everywhere. We were fighting with the car just handling all the way through the turn -- whether it was entry center or exit."

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T) Qualified Eighth STARTING EIGHTH IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU STARTED AT THE SPRING RACE HERE. YOUR CREW CHIEF SAID HE DIDN’T EXPECT YOU TO RUN THAT LAP. “It feels like the pole. It may not be the pole, but it feels like the pole for us. Our car has had a ton of speed since we’ve been here in race trim. Qualifying trim has been our weakness all year. I think that bodes very well for us on Sunday.”

GREG BIFFLE, No. 16 3M Ford Fusion (Qualified 2nd) – “What had an effect was the ability to keep the gas down in one and two. I drove it down in there and committed but couldn’t hold it down from the center out."

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET met with media and discussed the current point battle between Johnson and Keselowski, head games, the upcoming Phoenix race, and more.

TONY STEWART, NO. 14 OFFICE DEPOT/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET, met with members of the media at Texas Motor Speedway and discussed morning practice, Donny Schatz World of Outlaws championship and other topics.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET met with media and discussed participation in the Disaster Relief Fund, his focus on the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the pressure, the competition, and more.