Kasey Kahne scored his first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole in three years by setting the fastest time in the final round of qualifying for the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
Kahne’s first pole since 2012 edged him ahead of defending series champion and points leader, Kevin Harvick, who was fastest in the opening two rounds of qualifying and practice.
Kahne’s pole time matched what Harvick had managed in round two – 35.645-seconds.
If Harvick finishes in the top-2 this weekend at Michigan he will become the first driver in Sprint Cup history to have 11 top-2 finishes in the first 15 races of the season.
Brad Keselowski was third ahead of Carl Edwards, while Ryan Blaney was a surprise fifth for Wood Brothers Racing; which only compete part-time in the Sprint Cup these days.
Kahne’s Hendrick Motorsports team-mates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson – the two winners at Michigan last year – had to settle for sixth and eighth respectively.
After winning last week at Pocono, Martin Truex Jr was ninth ahead of Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth.
Brendan Gaughan was the one driver from the 44-car field not to qualify for the race.
QUALIFYING: Quicken Loans 400 – Michigan International Speedway