Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon broke the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) qualifying record after setting a record lap of 34.857 seconds and the speed of 206.558 miles per hour (mph).

Gordon beat the previous record set in June by Kevin Harvick.

"I knew that we were really strong here the last time we were here, and what our team is doing right now... it's just phenomenal how they continue to improve race cars and just the whole effort." Gordon said. "I'm just so proud of them. You don't go around this place like that that fast without a really good race car."

Like Us on Facebook

This gives Gordon the second pole position of the season after he clinched the top spot in last week's qualifying at Watkins Glen International road course.

"I don't know how to make it much better than that," said Gordon,

"This entire Axalta Chevrolet crew just did a phenomenal job. Our first qualifying effort today, and practice, was not good. I've been hearing a lot about tire chatter and we had it big-time."

His record-breaking lap was the seventh-fastest pole winning speed in NASCAR Sprint Cup history, also taking the 17^th spot for the new track qualifying record during the current season.

He now sits on third place on the all-time pole winners list with 76 pole positions in a career spanning 748 races.

Joey Logano and Carl Edwards qualified second and third respectively, with all three drivers posting laps at speeds over 206 mph.

Brian Vickers followed by qualifying in fourth, while Brad Keselowski came in fifth.

Dale Earnhardt Jr,. the points leader entering Sunday's race, only managed to get the 25^th quickest lap.

"We were a little loose on that second run," said Earnhardt. "We made a good lap on the first run and expected to go out there and pick-up two or three tenths and the back end was just moving around a lot and real loose and I guess just couldn't get into the throttle like we needed to." 

No drivers failed to qualify.

Tagsjeff gordon, nascar, Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, Michigan International Speedway