Based on owners points from last year Jimmie Johnson gets the pole at California Speedway thanks to the rain that washed out qualifying.  Jeff Gordon will start second so this really helps these two drivers who struggled at Daytona 500.

This actually hurts Ryan Newman who was hoping to come out and show he is more than just a one race winner. Newman is at a fairly decent starting position so he should do okay. The hardest part is with little practice time this means most teams will have to go on last years notes, which does not always be success.