FONTANA, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) — Kurt Busch took a big step toward locking up a spot in NASCAR’s “Chase for the Championship” on Friday.

In a Dodge Charger, Busch lapped the two-mile oval at California Speedway in 39.474 seconds, clocking 182.399 miles per hour to win the pole for Sunday’s Nextel Cup Series Sharp Aquos 500.

It was the 2004 Nextel Cup champion’s first pole of the season, third overall at California and 10th career.

Winning the pole here also gave Busch a spot in next year’s Bud Shootout.

“It feels great,” Busch said. “I knew we had a top-10 car, but I didn’t think we’d have a shot at the pole.”

Busch leads Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 158 points for the 12th and final spot in the “Chase” with two races remaining before NASCAR’s playoff begins at New Hampshire on September 16.

Earnhardt qualified seventh in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo with a lap of 39.750 seconds.

Joining Busch on the front row is reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson, who lapped the track in 39.475 seconds with a speed of 182.394 in a Chevrolet.

The Dodges of Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman comprise the second row. Kahne – last week’s pole-sitter at Bristol – crossed the stripe in 39.556, while Busch’s Penske racing teammate Newman posted a lap of 39.688.

Matt Kenseth, who won at this track in February, was a disappointing 38th in Ford Fusion after a lap of 40.382. Kenseth’s Roush Fenway Racing teammate Carl Edwards, who won at Bristol last week, was 19th at 40.014.

Current Nextel Cup leader Jeff Gordon rolls off 16th in a Chevrolet with a qualifying effort of 39.959.