Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart - have clinched spots in NASCAR's "playoff series".

Kurt Busch won his first pole of the season, edging out Jimmie Johnson by .001 of a second.

It was the second such narrow loss by Johnson, who lost by the same margin to J. J. Yeley at Michigan two weeks earlier.

However, it was his teammate, Jimmie Johnson (from nearby El Cajon, California) who took charge and held off a charging Carl Edwards for his series high fifth victory of the year and an automatic spot in the 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.

Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer will clinch spots by starting the next race, the Chevy Rock and Roll 400.