Matt Kenseth has continued the strong qualifying form of Joe Gibbs Racing with pole position for the Pure Michigan 400.
Kenseth, the winner at Pocono two weeks ago, took the pole with a lap of 317.826 km/h (197.488 miles per hour).
It’s another good sign for the team as it has won five of the last seven races contested.
That was enough to eclipse teammate Denny Hamlin with another Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Carl Edwards in third.
With a new, high-drag aerodynamic package similar to what was last month at Indianapolis, NASCAR opted for two rounds of single-car qualifying, rather than the typical group qualifying.
The new package had the desired effect of reducing speeds compared to last year’s qualifying record of 332.423 km/h (206.558 mph) set by Jeff Gordon.
Click here to find out how.
Among the drivers who failed to advance to Round 2 were 2012 Cup champ Brad Keselowski (14th), June Michigan winner Kurt Busch (16th), defending race winner Jeff Gordon (21st) and Danica Patrick (23rd).
Aric Almirola was 30th-fastest in qualifying after sickness left him with only limited participation in Friday’s only practice session. Two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Matt Crafton provided relief driving duties in the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford, but a rested Almirola suited up for time trials.
The only driver who didn’t qualify was Reed Sorenson.
QUALIFYING: Pure Michigan 400 – Michigan International Speedway
| POS. | CAR # | DRIVER | MANUFACTURER | SPONSOR | MPH | TIME | BEHIND |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Matt Kenseth |  |
Dollar General | 197.488 | 36.458 | Leader |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | |
FedEx Freight | 196.990 | 36.550 | –0.092 |
| 3 | 19 | Carl Edwards | |
Arris | 196.276 | 36.683 | –0.225 |
| 4 | 3 | Austin Dillon |  |
Dow | 195.918 | 36.750 | –0.292 |
| 5 | 14 | Tony Stewart | |
Mobil 1 / Bass Pro Shops | 195.477 | 36.833 | –0.375 |
| 6 | 18 | Kyle Busch | |
Interstate Batteries | 195.450 | 36.838 | –0.380 |
| 7 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | |
Jimmy John’s/ Budweiser | 195.249 | 36.876 | –0.418 |
| 8 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | |
LOWES | 195.228 | 36.880 | –0.422 |
| 9 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | |
Microsoft | 194.884 | 36.945 | –0.487 |
| 10 | 22 | Joey Logano |  |
Shell Pennzoil | 194.405 | 37.036 | –0.578 |
| 11 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | |
Farmers Insurance | 194.133 | 37.088 | –0.630 |
| 12 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | |
5-Hour Energy | 193.606 | 37.189 | –0.731 |
| 13 | 55 | David Ragan | |
Aaron’s Dream Machine Online Version | 193.632 | 37.184 | –0.726 |
| 14 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | |
Miller Lite | 193.554 | 37.199 | –0.741 |
| 15 | 9 | Sam Hornish Jr | |
Transportation Impact | 193.476 | 37.214 | –0.756 |
| 16 | 41 | Kurt Busch | |
Haas Automation | 193.309 | 37.246 | –0.788 |
| 17 | 31 | Ryan Newman | |
Caterpillar | 193.309 | 37.246 | –0.788 |
| 18 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | |
Cessna/McDonald’s | 193.149 | 37.277 | –0.819 |
| 19 | 21 | Ryan Blaney | |
Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center | 193.128 | 37.281 | –0.823 |
| 20 | 16 | Greg Biffle | |
Ortho Ford Fusion | 193.029 | 37.300 | –0.842 |
| 21 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | |
Pepsi | 193.009 | 37.304 | –0.846 |
| 22 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr | |
Furniture Row/Visser Precision | 192.921 | 37.321 | –0.863 |
| 23 | 10 | Danica Patrick | |
GoDaddy | 192.771 | 37.350 | –0.892 |
| 24 | 27 | Paul Menard | |
Richmond/Menards | 192.622 | 37.379 | –0.921 |
| 25 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | |
Advocare Ford Fusion | 192.005 | 37.499 | –1.041 |
| 26 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | |
Kroger/Scott’Products | 191.826 | 37.534 | –1.076 |
| 27 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | |
Zest Ford Fusion | 191.586 | 37.581 | –1.123 |
| 28 | 51 | Justin Allgaier | |
Brandt | 191.367 | 37.624 | –1.166 |
| 29 | 26 | Jeb Burton | |
Maxim/Estes | 190.713 | 37.753 | –1.295 |
| 30 | 43 | Aric Almirola | |
Armour | 190.527 | 37.790 | –1.332 |
| 31 | 40 | Landon Cassill | |
Snap Fitness | 190.049 | 37.885 | –1.427 |
| 32 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto | |
Cosmo Motors | 190.049 | 37.885 | –1.427 |
| 33 | 7 | Alex Bowman | |
Advanced Patient Care | 189.384 | 38.018 | –1.560 |
| 34 | 42 | Kyle Larson | |
Target | 189.230 | 38.049 | –1.591 |
| 35 | 35 | Cole Whitt | |
Dockside Logistics LLC | 189.091 | 38.077 | –1.619 |
| 36 | 38 | David Gilliland | |
MDS Transportation | 188.927 | 38.110 | –1.652 |
| 37 | 23 | J.J. Yeley | |
Dr. Pepper | 188.753 | 38.145 | –1.687 |
| 38 | 34 | Brett Moffitt | |
CSX Play It Safe | 188.516 | 38.193 | –1.735 |
| 39 | 46 | Michael Annett | |
Pilot Flying J | 187.980 | 38.302 | –1.844 |
| 40 | 13 | Casey Mears | |
No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS | 186.533 | 38.599 | –2.141 |
| 41 | 32 | Josh Wise | |
SKUTTLE TIGHT | 186.022 | 38.705 | –2.247 |
| 42 | 33 | Travis Kvapil | |
TBA | 183.673 | 39.200 | –2.742 |
| 43 | 98 | Timmy Hill | |
Premium Motorsports | 183.043 | 39.335 | –2.877 |
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