WATKINS GLEN, NY – Four-time Watkins Glen International race winner Jeff Gordon returned to form, capturing the pole for Sunday’s Cheez-It™ 355 at The Glen with record-breaking speed. Gordon, driver the No. 24 Driver to End Hunger Chevrolet, broke the track record on Saturday with a lap of 129.466 mph (68.126 seconds). Starting Lineup “It always feels good [to be at the top of the speed charts],” Gordon said. “We have great cars, a great team and the confidence among all of us is high.” During Round 1 of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying, Marcos Ambrose, driver of the No. 9 Stanley Ford, set a new Watkins Glen International qualifying record with a lap of 129.491 (68.113) seconds. Six drivers surpassed the previous qualifying record set by Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2013 with a speed of 123.291. In addition to Gordon – Ambrose, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and AJ Allmendinger were faster than the prior qualifying mark. Ambrose, looking to return to Gatorade Victory Lane after capturing the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win, will start in the front row. He has five top-five finishes in six previous starts at Watkins Glen International. The winner of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race ar WGI has never started from outside the 18th position. Green flag for Sunday’s Cheez-It™ 355 at The Glen is 1 p.m. source – track communications
