Kahne takes Michigan pole, Roush back at track

Autoracing Betting Lines

08/13/2010 - Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kasey Kahne claimed the pole for the CARFAX 400 after posting the quickest lap in Friday's qualifying at Michigan International Speedway.

Kahne knocked Jimmie Johnson off the top position after he turned a lap of 187.183 m.p.h. around the two-mile oval for his second pole of the season and the 18th of his Sprint Cup Series career. Kahne started on the pole and won at Michigan in June 2006.

"I got through [turns] one and two really good, and I knew I was awesome getting into three," Kahne said. "I got there and had three lanes to choose from in three and four. I chose one [lane], and it didn't really work, but it still ended up on the pole."

Earlier this week, Kahne announced he will join Red Bull Racing in 2011 to drive one of their Sprint Cup cars. He will then move over to Hendrick Motorsports to drive Mark Martin's No.5 car the following year. Kahne currently is behind the wheel of the No.9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Johnson qualified 0.02 seconds behind Kahne to start on the front row for the fourth time at Michigan. The four-time defending series champion has yet to win at this track, as well as Chicagoland, Homestead and Watkins Glen.

"I'm very proud of the effort we made today," Johnson said. "I certainly would have liked to won the pole. It's been Homestead of last year since we have won a pole. We've been close a few times."

Clint Bowyer took the third spot, while Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya, last weekend's race winner at Watkins Glen, rounded out the top-five.

Roush Fenway Racing teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth qualified sixth and seventh, respectively.

Team owner Jack Roush returned to the racetrack more than two weeks after he sustained serious injuries during a plane crash in Oshkosh, WI. Roush, who was released from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN earlier this week, arrived at Michigan wearing dark sunglasses. He ruptured his left eyeball and permanently has lost vision in that eye. He does expect to fly again.

"I feel very lucky," he said. "I had a damaged left cheek. I had a broken jaw, and I had a compression fracture in my back, and I've got a back brace for the compression fracture. I have hardware in my cheek. I still have packing in my nose, because they say its biodegradable, and it will come out on its own.

"I'm still uncomfortable with the fact that I can't breathe clearly through my nose. Everything will come back, and I was blessed to have great vision in two eyes, and now I've got great vision in one."

Roush resides 60 miles away from the two-mile track in Northville, MI.

Kevin Harvick, the current points leader, qualified eighth, followed by Martin Truex Jr. and Paul Menard.

Harvick currently holds a 185-advantage over Jeff Gordon, who qualified a disappointing 36th. Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., wound up two spots behind in 38th.

Mike Bliss, J.J. Yeley, Scott Riggs and Casey Mears failed to qualify.

Sunday's 400-mile race at Michigan is scheduled to start shortly after 1:00 p.m. (et).

Wwwsupremecasino Autoracing Betting News

<< Chivas USA hopes to regroup against red-hot Sounders
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of Major League Soccer's hottest teams, Seattle Sounders FC, travels to take on Chivas USA in a Western Conference clash on Saturday night. The Sounders have rattled off four straight wins to get b

<< Nationals heading to deadline for deal with Harper
WASHINGTON (AP) -It looks like negotiations with No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Harper will go to the deadline, the way they did last year with top choice Stephen Strasburg.The Nationals have until midnight as Monday turns to Tuesday to reach an agr

<< Injury news worsens for Twins, Morneau
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -Minnesota Twins first-baseman Justin Morneau says there is no timetable for his return from a concussion, and reliever Jose Mijares will miss four weeks with a torn meniscus in his right knee.Morneau says he's ``making progress and

<< Kuchar two clear at rainy Whistling Straits
Kohler, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Kuchar posted a three-under 69 on Friday to stay atop the leaderboard after his second round of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Kuchar, the first-round leader, finished 36 holes at eight-un

<< Blue Jays recall Rzepczynski for start
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays recalled pitcher Marc Rzepczynski from Triple-A Las Vegas to make Friday's start against the Angels. Rzepczynski will make his third start of the season and is 0-1 with a 7.15 earn

Chipper aiming for rehab over retirement after latest injury >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones spoke at a press conference Friday afternoon and indicated he intends on giving it another go in 2011 in the wake of tearing the ACL in his left knee for a s

Mickelson six back at Whistling Straits >>
Kohler, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phil Mickelson shot an up-and-down three-under 69 on Friday to finish his second round at two-under-par 142 at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Mickelson, the 2005 winner, is six strokes behin

Brewers release Gerut >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers have released veteran outfielder Jody Gerut. The 32-year-old was batting .197 with two home runs and eight runs batted in over 71 at-bats this season in a reserve role. He was a

Twins P Mijares out four weeks >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Twins pitcher Jose Mijares will miss the next four weeks with a torn meniscus in his right knee that will require surgery. Mijares suffered the injury in the eighth inning of Wednesday's

Dodgers demote Broxton from closer's role >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers demoted Jonathan Broxton from the closer's role after he suffered his fifth blown save of the season by faltering in the ninth inning Thursday night in Philadelphia. Broxton, c

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.