NASCAR New Hampshire Starting Lineup 2012: Jeff Gordon Takes Top Qualifying Spot

After a disastrous run in last week's Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway left him 47 points out of the lead, Jeff Gordon needs a good showing in Sunday's NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

He took the first step toward a comeback on Friday, winning the pole position for the Sylvania 300 – his first Loudon pole since 2001.

"The car got off the corner really strong, but as tight as these times are, you never know," Gordon told PRN after his lap. "To go out and get a pole on a non-restrictor (plate) track, we haven't done that in awhile. So this felt really good."

The pole was Gordon's first on an unrestricted track since 2010 (he won poles at Talladega in 2011 and earlier this year). It also marks the first time he's won multiple poles in a season since 2008.

To do it, Gordon knocked Kyle Busch from the top spot as the second-to-last car on the track. Denny Hamlin had been fastest in practice and went out after Gordon, but he only managed a 32nd-place effort.

Busch will start second, followed by Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers and Carl Edwards

Other Chase drivers included Kasey Kahne (sixth), Martin Truex Jr. (ninth) and the contingent of Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick (12th through 16th).

Jimmie Johnson was a disappointing 20th, followed by Matt Kenseth (25th) and Hamlin (32nd).

David Stremme, Scott Riggs, Jason Leffler and Jeff Green failed to qualify for Sunday's race.

Here's the starting lineup for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Chase drivers in bold):