BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) – Kasey Kahne earned the pole position with a record lap Friday in qualifying for the NASCAR Busch Series Cabelas 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

Kahne’s fast lap on the 2-mile, high-banked oval was 186.490 mph, surpassing the previous mark of 185.644, set last year by Kevin Lepage.

His first Busch series pole came in his 43rd race in the series. His best previous effort came in May at Dover, where he qualified second. His best finish is fourth.

“I thought my first pole would be somewhere else,” Kahne said. “There are a lot of good drivers here this weekend – 10 Winston Cup drivers and all the Busch regular drivers. To sit on the pole and be in front of the field Saturday is a big accomplishment.”

for this team.”

Kahne will be joined in the front row by David Reutimann, who turned a lap of 186.379 mph. Reutimann, running a limited scheduled this season with Joe Nemechek’s Busch team, will start his seventh race of the season and has no other events scheduled.

The second row will have Casey Mears and Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart, racing in his first Busch event since 1998.

Kevin Harvick was next, followed by Winston Cup points leader Matt Kenseth.

Busch series points leader Scott Riggs had a lap of 183.439 and will start from the seventh row in the 43-car field.

AP-ES-08-15-03 1716EDT