by The Virginian-Pilot

A NASCAR official stated earlier this week in a blog on NASCAR .com that "several well-respected veteran drivers came to (the NASCAR ) hauler and said, 'We need to address the bump-drafting in the corners.' "

Said Gordon: "Bump-drafting through the corners is ridiculous. I don't think that had anything to do with the race that you saw last week. If anything, I think it's what allowed 30-plus cars on the lead lap with 30 (laps) to go.

"I think the reason why guys got to the end of the race more so than we've seen in the past is because we weren't pushing one another through the corners. I thought that was a big positive."

Denny Hamlin wasn't pleased with NASCAR's warning on bump drafting last weekend that came two hours before the race, and his opinion remained unchanged .

"I think the fans would be disappointed if we decided to go back to Talladega and then have, once again, a no-bumping rule,'' Hamlin said. "We're drivers. We're professionals and I feel like we do a good job."

gordon takes pole to extend season streak

Gordon won his first pole of the season and extended his streak of at least one pole to 17 consecutive seasons.

He'll start first after going 191.117 mph Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. Kasey Kahne starts second after a lap of 190.975 mph. Kurt Busch (190.941), Tony Stewart (190.624) and Kyle Busch (190.523) completed the top five.

Points leader Jimmie Johnson qualified 12th with a lap of 189.860 mph.

new chief debuts

Dave Rogers made his debut as Kyle Busch's crew chief Friday and helped Busch qualify fifth .

Rogers moves up from Joe Gibbs Racing's Nationwide program for his first experience working with the Cup car since its change.

"I've been taking a crash course," Rogers said about the car. "I spent a lot of time with my set-up guys and my car chief just trying to figure out about these cars, what the rules are, how we set them up.

"This week and the next (two) weeks are all about finding a direction. What direction do we need to work on in the offseason? So, whether we win, lose or draw, as long as we have something to work on over the winter I think it will be a success."

Va. Beach contractor to start Cup team

Raymond Key, younger brother of Nationwide Series car owner Curtis Key, announced he's assembling a Sprint Cup team to compete full time next season. The team will be called Keyed Up Motorsports. Raymond Key owns a commercial contracting company in Virginia Beach.

The team will field Chevrolets purchased from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., with the team committed to run the first five races of next season. No driver or sponsor has been announced.

pit passes

Kyle Busch won Friday night's NASCAR Trucks Series race in Fort Worth. Busch has won each of his last five Truck races. Matt Crafton was second and Ron Hornaday was third. ... Richard Childress Racing signed John Wes Townley and sponsor Zaxby's for next year's Nationwide series .

- Dustin Long

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