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LOUDON, N.H. -- Jimmie Johnson gave Hendrick Motorsports a needed bright spot, turning a lap of 133.971 mph Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to win his first pole of the season.Johnson, a two-time race winner this season, could use a boost following a five-race slump where he failed to finish better than 13th. He has crashed out of his last two races, finishing 35th at Daytona International Speedway and 32nd last weekend at Kentucky Speedway.He was the lone Hendrick Motorsports driver in the top five.Hendrick suffered a blow this week when Dale Earnhardt Jr. dropped out of Sundays race because he suffered from symptoms of a concussion. Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet next week at Indianapolis if Earnhardt is not cleared to return.Alex Bowman, making his first Sprint Cup start of the season, qualified 20th subbing for Earnhardt.Johnson, Earnhardt, Kasey Kahne and Chase Elliott have all contributed to Hendrick Motorsports losing drought over the last 13 races. Johnsons March 20th win in Fontana, California, was the last for a Hendrick driver.Kyle Busch was second, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin.The car wasnt driving as well as I would have liked it to drive for qualifying, Busch said. But good speed, thats what matters right now and being able to put up a good lap like that.Heres what else was going on during Fridays qualifying:ITS ON THE POLEJohnson has 35 poles in 526 career NASCAR starts and first in 29 career Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire. Hes a three-time winner at New Hampshire and one of only two drivers to win two straight times on the track. Johnson has nine top-10 starts this season.TESTING, TESTINGEarnhardt, Denny Hamlin, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola were the only drivers to participate in a two-day Goodyear tire test last month at New Hampshire.The fact that Dale tested here, it makes (his absence) a larger issue, Johnson said. Those face-to-face conversations are so much more important than reading notes. Were going to miss that part, for sure.DRIVE FOR FIVEBrad Keselowski starts ninth as he tries for his fifth victory of the season.It is nice to have four wins. I wish they meant more. When it comes Chase time, I have four stickers on my car and that is about it, he said.BOWMANS STARTThe 23-year-old Bowman has not raced in the Cup series this season and had no top-10 finishes in 71 starts over the 2014-2015 seasons with BK Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing. He drives part-time in the second-tier Xfinity Series for Earnhardts JR Motorsports team.I felt like we probably could have qualified a little better, he said. I probably didnt do the best job I possibly could have and we got a little too tight off. Everybody at Hendrick Motorsports has worked really hard on this thing. Obviously, I hope Dale is feeling betterIts been a crazy 24 hours. Im ready to go take a nap, eat some food and relax a little bit until tomorrow.FINDING GORDONIs everyone sure Gordon knows he might be driving next weekend? Gordon is in France this weekend, which ruled him out for a potential return at New Hampshire.Somebody better call him, I think hes in the south of France drinking rose, Johnson said. We need to sober him up and get him back. Theo Pinson Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Otis Birdsong Jersey . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. https://www.cheapnetsonline.com/405g-keith-van-horn-jersey-nets.html . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Mason Plumlee Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Bill Melchionni Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. West Coast coach Adam Simpson reckons his team are yet to hit top gear despite watching his players get a monkey off their back in Sundays 32-point win over North Melbourne at Domain Stadium.The Eagles entered the match having lost all five of their previous encounters against top-eight opponents this season, leading some pundits to reprise the tag flat track bullies.But West Coast showed they will be far from mugs at the pointy end of the season with a powerful display against the Kangaroos.Forward Josh Kennedy booted four goals in the 16.8 (104) to 11.6 (72) win, with the result lifting West Coast up to fifth spot.More importantly, they are only one win adrift of second spot with winnable fixtures looming.Simpson was quick to praise his teams four-quarter effort against North, and he was equally pleased with their tough brand of football.But I think weve still got another gear to go to, Simpson added.Theres points in the game where we let it slip. Even halfway through the last quarter it just felt uncomfortable. We need to work on some things.Were not getting carried away. It was a good win. It reminded us of a good, solid brand of football we can play, and we move on to the next week.The next conversation will be about interstate (form) Im sure. Well cop that, and move on.The Kangaroos (10-5) were on top of the ladder after starting their season with nine straight wins.But five losses from their past six games have seen them plummet to eighth.Kangaroos coach Brrad Scott is optimistic his team will turn their form around, especially once the likes of Daniel Wells, Jarrad Waite, and Shaun Higgins return to action.ddddddddddddBut he was critical of his teams discipline after watching them give away four goals to 50m penalties against the Eagles.We play an aggressive combative sport and there is a fine line you walk, Scott said.The difference between hard and combative versus undisciplined is quite thin at times, and we were on the wrong side today.The Eagles will start favourites in upcoming games against Carlton (MCG), Melbourne, Collingwood (MCG) and Fremantle, giving them an excellent chance to move to 14-5.But the last three rounds will determine their top-four hopes when they confront GWS (Spotless Stadium), Hawthorn, and the Crows (Adelaide Oval).North Melbournes All-Australian star Todd Goldstein dominated the ruck battle, winning 65 taps to Scott Lycetts 28.But Goldsteins tap feast didnt convert into a dominant clearance win, with North Melbourne only winning the area by a small margin (46-41).Lycett could come under fire for his head-high bump on Jack Ziebell in a match that featured several spiteful contests.North Melbourne veteran Nick Dal Santo (illness) was a late withdrawal, and the Roos were dealt further blows when Farren Ray (hamstring) and Mason Wood (knee) succumbed to injury. 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