Jeff Gordon shouted, "Oh, yeah boys! Yoo Hoo!" over his radio, then punched his right arm skyward when he emerged from his No. 24 Chevrolet as his resurgent season continues.

Gordon turned a fast lap of 129.466 miles per hour on Saturday in winning the pole for the Cheez-It 355 in Watkins Glen, N.Y., edging road-racing ace Marcos Ambrose and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson in the second and final round of knockout qualifying.

It was Gordon's first pole of the season, third at Watkins Glen and 75th of his stellar career.

Just like old times at Watkins Glen International, where Gordon has won four times. And on his son Leo's birthday no less.

Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch rounded out the top five.

• Ambrose won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen on Saturday. Making his first appearance in four years in a race he has dominated, Ambrose drove a flawless race from the fourth starting position after an early altercation with Kyle Busch, then held off a hard-charging Busch in the closing laps for his fourth straight victory in the event. Joey Logano finished third.