Bristol, TN (Betting Express) - Joey Logano became a first-time pole winner in the Sprint Cup Series after turning the fastest lap in Friday's qualifying for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Logano, the 2009 Sprint Cup rookie of the year, posted a lap of 124.630 m.p.h. on the half-mile, high-banked track to record his first pole in his 44th start. The 19-year-old is having a remarkable sophomore season so far in NASCAR's top circuit, as he currently sits 14th in points.

"After last year, this is so awesome," Logano said. "We struggled a lot last year, but to come through here the second year and get the [car] up front and start on the pole, that's going to be pretty neat. Of course, pit position is going to be huge here, and track position is a huge deal too."

Kurt Busch, who won two weeks ago at Atlanta, finished 0.096 seconds behind Logano to capture the outside pole. His younger brother, Kyle, won last year's spring race at Bristol with then-crew chief Steve Addington, but Addington left Joe Gibbs Racing and joined Busch's Penske Racing team at the conclusion of last season.

"It was surprising, but it was a good lap," Busch said. "Steve is really working hard right now on what we had last year and what he wants to go to. It wasn't the prettiest of practice days, but we got a lap in."

Kurt Busch is a five-time Bristol winner, with three of them coming in the spring event.

Dave Blaney was the highest finisher among those drivers who were required to qualify on time with a third-place effort. Four-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson took the fourth spot, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, also a five-time race winner at Bristol, picked up the fifth position.

Juan Pablo Montoya, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Marcos Ambrose and David Reutimann completed the top-10.

After failing to qualify for the first four races this season, Casey Mears made the show at Bristol with a 34th-starting spot. Mears joined start-up Keyed Up Motorsports prior to the start of the season. Terry Cook also qualified for his first race this year.

Bristol's recent track modification made it a difficult day for teams in practice and qualifying. Track personnel added more than 160 feet of Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barriers and extended the barriers by three feet at the exits of turns two and four. Nearly three years ago, the track was expanded by four feet with a fresh layer of concrete poured on the surface. The modification led to multiple racing grooves here.

With less room to move around, drivers spent most of the day adjusting to Bristol's tighter space.

Brad Keselowski lost control of his car during his first lap in qualifying and wound up finishing 36th, while Michael Waltrip scraped the wall during his attempt and settled for the 39th starting spot.

Mike Bliss and Max Papis failed to qualify.

Sunday's 500-lap race at Bristol is scheduled to start around 1:00 p.m. (et).