Auto Racing | Truex earns pole for event in Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas — Earlier this year, Martin Truex Jr. posted his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win. The 27-year-old added his first pole in the series Friday.

Truex turned a 193.105 mph lap Friday at Texas Motor Speedway to grab the top spot for Sunday's Dickies 500. The pole was earned in the 79th race of Truex's Cup career and it came in a Chevrolet that had to undergo major repairs after a crash Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"I've got to hand it to all the guys on this team," Truex said. "They rebuilt this car from last week. It's my favorite car, and it has been for a good part of the season. They made it as good as new."

Series leader Jeff Gordon qualified in second at 192.424. Rookie Juan Pablo Montoya was third.

Reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who trails Gordon by nine points with three races remaining this season, qualified eighth.

Vancouver, Wash., native Greg Biffle qualified in 23rd and Kasey Kahne, of Enumclaw, qualified in 25th.

Alonso exits McLaren

WOKING, England — Driver Fernando Alonso, a two-time Formula One champion, left McLaren after a stormy first season.

Alonso, 26, joined the British team after twice winning the F1 title with Renault. He has clashed with McLaren management and teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Notes

• Carl Edwards has a good starting spot for a race that can clinch his NASCAR Busch Series title.

Edwards had a fast lap of 190.745 to qualify third for the O'Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. Edwards has to finish today's race 36th or better to secure the season title; there are two races left after today's event.

A week after his first Busch victory, David Reutimann earned his first career pole with a qualifying lap of 191.646.

• Ted Musgrave ended a 66-race winless streak when he captured the Silverado 350K NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. Mike Skinner, who finished third, leads the standings.