Austin Dillon will start from pole for the second time in his career
Austin Dillon left it to the final 15 seconds of qualifying to grab the pole for the Auto Club 400 at Fontana in California.
It was Dillon first pole of the season, and only the second (Daytona 500 2014) in his Sprint Cup career aboard the famous #3 of Richard Childress Racing.
Last week’s winner, Kevin Harvick, led the final round until topped the speed charts with a 303.332km/h (188.482 mph) lap.
“It means everything,” said Dillon.
“I’m not just a Daytona 500 pole sitter now. I’ve got a pole somewhere else.”
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Following Dillon and Harvick on Friday were Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards.
Defending race winner Brad Keselowski will start 15th, while California native Jimmie Johnson, who has earned five wins at Fontana, qualified 19th.
QUALIFYING: Auto Club 400 – Auto Club Speedway Fontana
POS.
CAR #
DRIVER
MAKE
SPONSOR
MPH
TIME
GAP
1
3
Austin Dillon
American Ethanol
188.482
38.200
Leader
2
4
Kevin Harvick
Jimmy John’s
188.329
38.231
–0.031
3
11
Denny Hamlin
Sport Clips
187.637
38.372
–0.172
4
31
Ryan Newman
Caterpillar
187.276
38.446
–0.246
5
19
Carl Edwards
Subway
187.222
38.457
–0.257
6
18
Kyle Busch
M&M’s 75
187.212
38.459
–0.259
7
6
Trevor Bayne
Advocare Ford Fusion
186.916
38.520
–0.320
8
24
Chase Elliott
NAPA Auto Parts
186.795
38.545
–0.345
9
22
Joey Logano
AAA Southern Cal.
186.557
38.594
–0.394
10
1
Jamie McMurray
McDonald’s
186.345
38.638
–0.438
11
47
AJ Allmendinger
Food 4 Less/Scott Products
185.687
38.775
–0.575
12
5
Kasey Kahne
Farmers Insurance
187.642
38.371
–0.171
13
27
Paul Menard
FVP / Menards
187.495
38.401
–0.201
14
21
Ryan Blaney
Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire + Auto Center
187.480
38.404
–0.204
15
2
Brad Keselowski
Wurth
187.232
38.455
–0.255
16
34
Chris Buescher
Love’s Travel Stops
187.154
38.471
–0.271
17
78
Martin Truex Jr
Furniture Row
187.028
38.497
–0.297
18
17
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Fastenal Ford Fusion
186.528
38.600
–0.400
19
48
Jimmie Johnson
Lowe’s / Superman
186.297
38.648
–0.448
20
20
Matt Kenseth
DeWalt
186.268
38.654
–0.454
21
44
Brian Scott
Albertsons Co. / White Tail
186.176
38.673
–0.473
22
16
Greg Biffle
Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion
186.075
38.694
–0.494
23
13
Casey Mears
GEICO
185.773
38.757
–0.557
24
14
Brian Vickers
Janssen Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation Chevrolet SS
185.581
38.797
–0.597
25
43
Aric Almirola
Smithfield
186.398
38.627
–0.427
26
41
Kurt Busch
Haas Automation / Monster Energy
186.095
38.690
–0.490
27
88
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Nationwide / Batman
186.080
38.693
–0.493
28
7
Regan Smith
AIPAC
185.696
38.773
–0.573
29
15
Clint Bowyer
Visine
185.639
38.785
–0.585
30
95
Michael McDowell
WRL General Contractors
185.486
38.817
–0.617
31
10
Danica Patrick
TaxAct
185.099
38.898
–0.698
32
42
Kyle Larson
Target
184.990
38.921
–0.721
33
83
Matt DiBenedetto
Cosmo Motors
184.611
39.001
–0.801
34
38
Landon Cassill
MDS Transport
184.186
39.091
–0.891
35
23
David Ragan
Dr. Pepper
183.052
39.333
–1.133
36
98
Cole Whitt
Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters Chevy
182.348
39.485
–1.285
37
30
Josh Wise
SBC Contractors
181.951
39.571
–1.371
38
46
Michael Annett
Pilot Flying J
180.610
39.865
–1.665
39
32
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Can – Am
180.415
39.908
–1.708
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