Vickers wins Sprint Cup pole at Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Brian Vickers turned a lap at 127.131 mph to win the pole position for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway.

Vickers was the 10th driver on the track in qualifying Friday night, and his speed held up as notable short-track qualifiers Jeff Gordon and hometown star Denny Hamlin made runs at him.

Gordon got the closest at 126.844 mph, but was forced to settle for the outside of the front row. Hamlin will start third after a lap at 126.665, with Martin Truex Jr. fourth.