Elliott Sadler celebrates his third career Bud Pole. Credit: Autostock

Sadler wins Bud Pole for Food City 500 at Bristol

No. 38 Ford will start first for first time since Oct. 2003

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) -- It took a strong qualifying run by Elliott Sadler to end Jeff Gordon's hold on the front row at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Sadler ran a lap at 127.733 mph Friday to win the pole, his first since Sept. 2003. It comes at the same track where Sadler scored his first career victory four years ago in the Food City 500.

Lineup Food City 500 Pos. Driver Speed (mph) 1. Elliott Sadler 127.733 2. Dave Blaney 127.444 3. Rusty Wallace 127.048 4. Jeff Gordon 126.964 5. Travis Kvapil 126.955 Complete lineup, click here Sadler takes the top starting spot for the Food City 500 Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"This is a very special place," Sadler said. "I haven't had a pole in a long time and I really wanted this bad. I can't think of a better place than Bristol, and I feel like I already won the race."

Dave Blaney qualified second and Rusty Wallace, who has nine Bristol victories, was third.

"I really wanted the pole here, but this is OK, too," said Wallace, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Gordon, who has qualified on the front row the past six races here, was fourth. He is seeking his fifth Bristol win, and still thinks he has a chance.

"I think good starting position is so critical, especially at short tracks," Gordon said. "We haven't been qualifying that good this year, but this is a start."

Travis Kvapil qualified fifth. Jeff Green, Ryan Newman, Jeremy Mayfield, Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle rounded out the top 10.

Sadler thinks the race is his to lose.

"My car is bad to the bone in race trim, it's one of the best cars I've ever had here," he said. "We knew if we could start near the front we'd be OK."