Quals crash sends hopeful Ragan to back of start grid (cont'd)

Loose was the order of the day as two-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson was wicked loose on both of his laps and dirt-tracked his way to a 34th-place start.

For comparison, 81 percent (77 of 95) of the races at Bristol have been won from the top 10, and two on the bubble will be within that when the Sharpie 500 rolls off.

Edwards on pole

Edwards won his first pole position of the season Friday, turning a lap at 121.860 mph in qualifying at Bristol.

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Jeff Gordon rebounded from a miserable performance last week at Michigan with a run at 15.842 seconds, 121.121 mph to put his Chevrolet in third at the time. Gordon has five victories at Bristol, has led nearly 2,500 laps and should gain some space over 13th on Saturday. He is currently ninth in points, 82 points ahead of 13th.

Harvick, eighth in points with a 103-point lead on Bowyer and Ragan, put his Chevy into sixth at 15.904 seconds, 120.649 mph. Harvick has a victory, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 15 starts.

Ryan Newman, 211 points out and needing a miracle, will be the best among those outside the top 12. Newman's lap at 15.922 seconds, 120.572 mph, was good for 11th place.

Newman, who holds the track record at 14.908 seconds, has two poles, one top-five and six top-10 finishes in 13 starts at Bristol. His average finish, however, is 21.2.

Martin Truex Jr. needed a solid showing to help his chances, as he sits 201 points out in 16th place, and he got it, running 15.947 seconds at 120.324 mph. That was good for 12th on Saturday. Truex's best finish in five starts at Bristol is 11th, and his average finish is 23.4.

Kasey Kahne, currently 11th in the standings with just 47 points in hand over 13th, put the No. 9 Dodge in 13th at 15.948 seconds, 120.316 mph. Kahne has a top-five finish in nine starts, and his average finish is 18.6.

Biffle, at the upper edge of the bubble in seventh and 145 points up on 13th place, put his Ford into the race at 15.957 seconds, 120.248 mph to earn 14th place. Biffle has a stellar finishing record at BMS, averaging 9.7.

Matt Kenseth, the beneficiary of some wild happenings a week ago that pushed him up to 10th in the points (74 ahead of Bowyer and Ragan), was a touch slower than Hamlin with his lap at 15.990 seconds, 120.000 mph, and will start 25th.

Kenseth is nearly a mortal lock to finish somewhere near the top 10. In 17 starts, Kenseth has 10 finishes of 10th or better, including two victories and seven top-five finishes. His average finish is 12.4.

Brian Vickers, sitting 15th in points and trailing the Chase by 166 points, put his No. 83 Toyota in the field 26th after a lap at 15.994 seconds, 119.970 mph. In eight starts, Vickers' best finish is 12th, and his average finish is 26.4 -- only Ragan's 29.3 is lower.

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