For 48 hours Kurt Busch has bragging rights in the Busch family household as he and 17 other drivers shattered the track record in qualifying for the 400 mile Las Vegas NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
“It’s cool to sit on the pole just to have the buzz around the team that carries for a couple of days,” said Busch who won the pole at a speed of 188.719 mph in his Dodge.
It was a little bit of a twist of irony as Kurt’s younger brother Kyle won the pole and the race last year with Kurt Busch’s new crew chief, Steve Addington.
Busch said: “It really was an unexpected lap. I didn’t want to let the team down. When I drove through 3 and 4, I wasn’t hesitant to get wide open.”
“I would say we used a combination of what I was familiar with and what Steve liked. That’s our plan of attack each week,” Kurt said.
Kurt credited his crew chief for the setup which won the pole. “Looking back at decisions that Steve made, looking at key things that I’ve been missing… it’s been that long.”
Jeff Gordon took second-place in a Chevrolet at 188.646mph and didn’t show disappointment. “We’re real happy. Kurt had a great lap there. I feel we got a little free off four; that might have been the difference.”
“We went for it not knowing if it was going to work, but, so far, the track is cool and fast,” he said.
When asked how 18 drivers broke the record of 185.995mph set by Kyle Busch last year, Gordon explained: “the majority was the tires that bring a little more power .”
Dale Earnhardt Jr was fourth fastest and Kyle Busch had the fastest Toyota and fifth overall.
Robby Gordon posted no time, but, since he practiced earlier and was in the top 35 owner points, he will see the green flag regardless.
Former Richard Childress Driver, Casey Mears and Terry Cook failed to qualify.
This is Kurt’s 11th pole in 337 races, his last one coming in September 2007 at Auto Club Speedway in California.
Although Busch has what could be the winning combination he admits a little apprehension “400 miles means elbows up and feeling a little nervous on lap 267,” which is the checkered flag.
“It’s cool to sit on the pole just to have the buzz around the team that carries for a couple of days,” said Busch who won the pole at a speed of 188.719 mph in his Dodge.
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| Kurt Bush (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com) |
It was a little bit of a twist of irony as Kurt’s younger brother Kyle won the pole and the race last year with Kurt Busch’s new crew chief, Steve Addington.
Busch said: “It really was an unexpected lap. I didn’t want to let the team down. When I drove through 3 and 4, I wasn’t hesitant to get wide open.”
“I would say we used a combination of what I was familiar with and what Steve liked. That’s our plan of attack each week,” Kurt said.
Kurt credited his crew chief for the setup which won the pole. “Looking back at decisions that Steve made, looking at key things that I’ve been missing… it’s been that long.”
Jeff Gordon took second-place in a Chevrolet at 188.646mph and didn’t show disappointment. “We’re real happy. Kurt had a great lap there. I feel we got a little free off four; that might have been the difference.”
“We went for it not knowing if it was going to work, but, so far, the track is cool and fast,” he said.
When asked how 18 drivers broke the record of 185.995mph set by Kyle Busch last year, Gordon explained: “the majority was the tires that bring a little more power .”
Dale Earnhardt Jr was fourth fastest and Kyle Busch had the fastest Toyota and fifth overall.
Robby Gordon posted no time, but, since he practiced earlier and was in the top 35 owner points, he will see the green flag regardless.
Former Richard Childress Driver, Casey Mears and Terry Cook failed to qualify.
This is Kurt’s 11th pole in 337 races, his last one coming in September 2007 at Auto Club Speedway in California.
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| Tony Stewart (photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com) |
Although Busch has what could be the winning combination he admits a little apprehension “400 miles means elbows up and feeling a little nervous on lap 267,” which is the checkered flag.
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