Brad Keselowski has scored pole for the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway, a race that is set to see plenty of drivers put it on the line to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
With the 400 lap encounter at Richmond being the final race before the Chase for the Sprint Cup, plenty of attention is on any driver that has not won so far this year. A victory to drivers who contest the entire season will make the Chase and therefore be in the running to win the title. The only exception to this rule is Tony Stewart, who missed two races following the Sprintcar incident he was involved in which killed Kevin Ward Jr.
Prior to qualifying a massive storm flash-flooded the pit/paddock area. However, it quickly subsided and qualifying was held in hot/steamy conditions.
The Penske Fords have been strong throughout qualifying in 2014 with Keselowski collecting his fourth pole and only seventh of his career.
“The car is really fast, that’s what makes the difference,” said Keselowski.
“You have to have a little luck and we had a big cloud cover there for a few minutes. I’m surprised no one else took advantage of it.
“We could win the 400th for the Captain (team owner Roger Penske). Boy, would I love to get that. … We’d like to get a win in us before we enter the Chase and have the top seed outright.”
He will share the front row with Jeff Gordon, while Jimmie Johnson will start on the second row alongside Kevin Harvick. The other Team Penske entry of Joey Logano will start fifth.
Marcos Ambrose will start from 33rd after he said he lacked grip in his Richard Petty Motorsports Ford. The Australian turned-in a total of nine qualifying laps, with his opening tour being the best of his runs.
With the majority of the race being run after the sun sets, Ambrose will be looking to make sure his car will be best for those cooler track temperatures.
QUALIFYING: Federated Auto Parts 400 – Richmond International Raceway
| POS. | CAR | DRIVER | MANUFACTURER | SPONSOR | MPH | BEST TIME | BEHIND |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Ford | Miller Lite | 126.618 | 21.324 | Leader |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Drive to End Hunger | 126.039 | 21.422 | –0.098 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Lowe’s | 125.898 | 21.446 | –0.122 |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Budweiser | 125.857 | 21.453 | –0.129 |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Ford | Shell Pennzoil | 125.663 | 21.486 | –0.162 |
| 6 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Toyota | 5-Hour Energy | 125.634 | 21.491 | –0.167 |
| 7 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | Ford | Fifth Third Bank | 125.476 | 21.518 | –0.194 |
| 8 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet | Target | 125.081 | 21.586 | –0.262 |
| 9 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Chevrolet | Haas Automation | 124.913 | 21.615 | –0.291 |
| 10 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | Kelloggs/Frosted Flakes | 124.665 | 21.658 | –0.334 |
| 11 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | FedEx Express | 124.562 | 21.676 | –0.352 |
| 12 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Chevrolet | Caterpillar | 124.464 | 21.693 | –0.369 |
| 13 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Chevrolet | GoDaddy | 124.832 | 21.629 | –0.305 |
| 14 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | Sylvania / Menards | 124.694 | 21.653 | –0.329 |
| 15 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevrolet | CESSNA | 124.694 | 21.653 | –0.329 |
| 16 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Toyota | Dollar General | 124.619 | 21.666 | –0.342 |
| 17 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | No. 16 3M Call Before You Dig Ford Fusion | 124.573 | 21.674 | –0.350 |
| 18 | 55 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | Aaron’s Dream Machine | 124.493 | 21.688 | –0.364 |
| 19 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops / Mobil 1 | 124.424 | 21.700 | –0.376 |
| 20 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | M&M’s | 124.390 | 21.706 | –0.382 |
| 21 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevrolet | Farmer’s Insurance | 124.349 | 21.713 | –0.389 |
| 22 | 13 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS | 124.309 | 21.720 | –0.396 |
| 23 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | Chevrolet | Bush’s Beans | 124.275 | 21.726 | –0.402 |
| 24 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Chevrolet | Nationwide Insurance | 124.269 | 21.727 | –0.403 |
| 25 | 23 | Alex Bowman | Toyota | Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry | 124.252 | 21.730 | –0.406 |
| 26 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | Gwaltney | 124.224 | 21.735 | –0.411 |
| 27 | 51 | Justin Allgaier | Chevrolet | BRANDT Professional Agriculture | 124.212 | 21.737 | –0.413 |
| 28 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Chevrolet | American Ethanol | 124.007 | 21.773 | –0.449 |
| 29 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr | Chevrolet | Furniture Row | 123.887 | 21.794 | –0.470 |
| 30 | 38 | David Gilliland | Ford | Long John Silver’s | 123.785 | 21.812 | –0.488 |
| 31 | 90 | David Stremme | Chevrolet | Junie Donlavey Tribute | 123.717 | 21.824 | –0.500 |
| 32 | 36 | Reed Sorenson | Chevrolet | TBA | 123.683 | 21.830 | –0.506 |
| 33 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford | DeWalt | 123.440 | 21.873 | –0.549 |
| 34 | 40 | Landon Cassill | Chevrolet | Newtown Building Supplies | 123.389 | 21.882 | –0.558 |
| 35 | 26 | Cole Whitt | Toyota | Standard Plumbing Supply Toyota | 123.350 | 21.889 | –0.565 |
| 36 | 98 | Josh Wise | Chevrolet | Provident Metals | 123.271 | 21.903 | –0.579 |
| 37 | 32 | Travis Kvapil | Ford | CorvetteParts.net | 123.226 | 21.911 | –0.587 |
| 38 | 93 | J.J. Yeley | Toyota | Burger King Toyota Camry | 123.164 | 21.922 | –0.598 |
| 39 | 37 | Mike Bliss | Chevrolet | Accell Construction Inc. | 122.371 | 22.064 | –0.740 |
| 40 | 7 | Michael Annett | Chevrolet | Pilot / Flying J Chevrolet | 122.255 | 22.085 | –0.761 |
| 41 | 66 | Joe Nemechek | Toyota | Friedman Law Firm | 121.764 | 22.174 | –0.850 |
| 42 | 34 | David Ragan | Ford | CSX Play It Safe | 0.000 | 0.000 | -21.324 |
| 43 | 83 | Ryan Truex | Toyota | Burger King Toyota Camry | 0.000 | 0.000 | -21.324 |
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