Martin eyes Chase with sixth pole of season

RICHMOND

Mark Martin won his sixth pole of the season Friday at Richmond International Raceway, while Matt Kenseth, who holds the final transfer spot to the Chase, will start 28th.

Martin is one of 10 drivers vying for the eight final spots in the Chase. The title contenders will be set after tonight's race.

Kenseth leads Brian Vickers by 20 points and Kyle Busch by 37 points for that last Chase spot. Vickers will start sixth and Busch qualified eighth.

Martin won the pole with a lap of 126.808 mph. Martin Truex Jr. (126.731 mph) starts second. Denny Hamlin (126.630 mph), Jimmie Johnson (126.541) and Kasey Kahne (126.452) complete the top five.

No driver vying for a Chase spot starts worse than Kenseth. Greg Biffle, who is 11th in the points standings, starts 24th.

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BACK AGAIN

Richard Petty Motorsports' move to Ford reunites the manufacturer with Kasey Kahne. Their separation wasn't pleasant. Ford filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Kahne when he signed to drive for Dodge and Ray Evernham's team for the 2004 season.

"I think that it will be a bit different," Kahne said of returning to Ford, "because of the way that our relationship ended last time. We'll have to figure out how to get through that and go on with it.

"I wasn't a big fan (of them) and they weren't a big fan of me. Time heals, and I think some of those (Ford) people are gone that caused all that. Ford is really excited, and I can work through those things."

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TEAMWORK?

Kahne applauds the help he's received from two of his three teammates, leaving open questions about his relationship with AJ Allmendinger. Asked about getting help from his teammates, Kahne said:

"I think I am with Reed (Sorenson) and Elliott (Sadler). They seem to always be there, and we always talk and try to go over thing and figure things out together. They've been great teammates all year long. Elliott has been a great teammate since he's been at RPM. We definitely got it going with two of the three."

Why not the other teammate,

"I don't know why," Kahne said. "I don't know if he knows why."

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MOVING ON

Dodge President and CEO Mike Accavitti reaffirmed his company's commitment to NASCAR after Richard Petty Motorsports announced it will switch from Dodge to Ford next year.

The move leaves Dodge with only Penske Racing for next year and drivers Kurt Busch, Sam Hornish Jr. and Brad Keselowski.

"Dodge's plan - to be a championship contender in 2010 with Penske Racing and a solid lineup of drivers - has not changed," Accavitti said in a statement. "We remain firmly focused on our objectives to be the leading manufacturer in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, win races and compete for the Sprint Cup at the right level."

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CREW CHIEF CHANGE

Kurt Busch confirmed Friday that his crew chief Pat Tryson will leave the team at the end of the season.

Tryson is expected to be Martin Truex Jr.'s crew chief next season at Michael Waltrip Racing.

Truex would not confirm the move.

"The timing isn't all that good, and it never is any good when you want to change direction in life," Busch said of Tryon's move becoming public just as the Chase is about to begin. "It seems as if our focus right now should be the Chase and making it in the Chase. It was a tough week for that type of news. It's a change that's going to happen. It's unfortunate that Pat made that type of decision.

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PIT STOP

Denny Hamlin says the car stolen from his home last month was recovered. Asked about the car's condition, Hamlin said: "The car was bad. I think they probably lived in it to be honest with you."