Defending race winner Kasey Kahne starts back up where he left off at Sonoma -- up front! Kahne beat Jimmie Johnson for the #1 starting position for Sunday’s race at Infineon Raceway!

photo credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR

“It’s a great car,” Kahne said. “It’s the same car we ran here last year, minus the engine. We’ve got a new Ford engine that runs really well. I’m looking forward to seeing how it runs throughout the race. Tomorrow (practice session) is huge as far as getting the balance right and getting it to turn and hit the corners the way we want to.”

Kahne’s lap of 93.893 mph trumped Johnson’s 93.809 knocking him to second on the leader board.

It’s the 17th career pole for Sonoma and first since winning the pole there in 2008.

Jimmie Johnson, who has never won at Sonoma, will start alongside Kahne on the front row for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350.

Kurt Busch will start third followed by series points leader, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr. in the top-10.

A top-10 starting position is important at Sonoma. 16 of 21 races have been won from a top-10 starting spot.

For the Toyota/Save Mart 350 starting line-up, click here (nascar.com)

David Ragan wrecked into a tire barrier sending him to a back-up for the race.

TV coverage of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 starts at 2 (ET) on TNT.