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 The last time Kenseth won a pole at the high-banked .533-mile short
track in 2005 he followed with a victory in the race.
In Friday's time trials at Thunder Valley, with a lap at 128.632
mph, Kenseth claimed the 14th pole of his career, his second at
Bristol and his first of the season.
And that's a good omen for a driver who hasn't won a NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series race since his seven-victory debut season with Joe Gibbs
Racing in 2013.
Kenseth edged two-time Bristol winner Brad Keselowski (128.442 mph)
for the top starting spot by .022 of a second. Carl Edwards (128.322
mph) qualified third, his best effort of the season so far, and
reigning series champion Kevin Harvick (128.211 mph) will start
fourth in Sunday's Food City 500 to Support Steve Byrnes (1 p.m. on
FOX).
Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano (who was fastest in each of the first two
rounds of knockout qualifying), Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne took the
fifth through eighth spots on the grid. All of the top eight
qualifiers are former Bristol winners.
"We need to be able to go out and win races," Kenseth said. "Last
year and so far this year haven't been particularly great for JGR. I
think we've had two wins that weren't plate races in the last year
and a half as a company.
"So, obviously, as a company, we've got to get running better. ...
We've just got to keep working on it, and I've certainly got to be
better. I need to do a better job, and I know that. I work at
getting better every week, and I have, I think, since the first day
I came into this sport."
If Kenseth is to capitalize on his pole position, his team will have
to improve the handling of the No. 20 Toyota in race trim.
"You have to be able to stay on your tires for a long time," the
2003 series champion said. "You have to have good balance at the end
of the run. You have to be pretty fast at the beginning of the run
so you don't give up spots on restarts -- it is hard to pass later
the run.
"I wasn't really thrilled with the way my car drove in race trim (in
practice) today, but in qualifying trim it would run a fast lap. So
I certainly think we've got some work to do (in Saturday's
practice)."
So does Jimmie Johnson. Last week's Texas winner didn't survive the
first elimination in qualifying and will start 28th in Sunday's
race. In fact, Kahne was the only Hendrick Motorsports driver to
advance to the final round in Friday's time trials.
David Ragan continued his solid effort in relief of injured Kyle
Busch, qualifying 11th in the No. 18 JGR Camry.
Brendan Gaughan and Ron Hornaday Jr. failed to make the 43-car
field.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying - Food City 500 in Support of
Steve Byrnes and Stand Up to Cancer
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tennessee
Friday, April 17, 2015
1. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 128.632 mph.
2. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 128.442 mph.
3. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 128.322 mph.
4. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 128.211 mph.
5. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 127.419 mph.
6. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 127.317 mph.
7. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 126.871 mph.
8. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 126.829 mph.
9. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 126.829 mph.
[to top of second column] |
10. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 126.612 mph.
11. (18) David Ragan, Toyota, 126.436 mph.
12. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 126.262 mph.
13. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 127.081 mph.
14. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 127.073 mph.
15. (51) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 126.562 mph.
16. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 126.503 mph.
17. (40) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 126.428 mph.
18. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 126.088 mph.
19. (95) Michael McDowell, Ford, 125.947 mph.
20. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 125.939 mph.
21. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 125.831 mph.
22. (83) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 125.798 mph.
23. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 125.609 mph.
24. (55) Brett Moffitt #, Toyota, 125.199 mph.
25. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 126.378 mph.
26. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 126.328 mph.
27. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 126.303 mph.
28. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 126.146 mph.
29. (23) JJ Yeley(i), Toyota, 126.046 mph.
30. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 125.823 mph.
31. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 125.798 mph.
32. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 125.625 mph.
33. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 125.551 mph.
34. (26) Jeb Burton #, Toyota, 125.510 mph.
35. (98) Josh Wise, Ford, 125.453 mph.
36. (46) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 125.158 mph.
37. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, Owner Points
38. (34) Chris Buescher(i), Ford, Owner Points
39. (9) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, Owner Points
40. (7) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, Owner Points
41. (32) Mike Bliss(i), Ford, Owner Points
42. (35) Cole Whitt, Ford, Owner Points
43. (33) Alex Kennedy #, Chevrolet, Owner Points
2 drivers failed to qualify.
44. (62) Brendan Gaughan(i), Chevrolet, 124.034 mph.
45. (30) Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, 123.682 mph.
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