Greg Biffle barely eclipsed his teammate, Carl Edwards, to take the pole for the Hollywood Casino 400 on Friday.
For Biffle, not known as a pole winner, it was a huge deal however. In ten years and 324 races this was only his eighth pole in his Sprint Cup car, second this year which ties a season high for Biffle.
“It was a really good lap, it stuck to the track real well,” said Biffle the two-time winner and defending champion, who lapped the Kansas Speedway mile and a half oval at 174.887mph edging Edwards’ speed of 174.571mph.
The pole winner was surprised at his accomplishment. “Never guessed we’d be on the pole. We were 35th off the truck and that had a lot to do. (It) says a lot about the team. Today was a trying day. He (his crew chief) just stayed calm, head in the game. If we keep do that we’re going to win a lot of races.”
Edwards, who is tied with Kevin Harvick for the Sprint Cup series lead, wasn’t too upset with losing the pole. This is the best we ever qualified here so I’m not going to be frustrated. Pretty excited to have an all-Ford front row.”
It’s fourth time this year that Roush Fenway cars have locked up the front row.
Kyle Busch, who was third fastest in a Toyota, explained it was “better than we expected but not as good as we wanted. The wind blowing today was kind of a handful for a number of cars.”
Matt Kenseth, another Roush Fenway driver was fourth fastest.
Chaser Denny Hamlin was seventh fastest and Jeff Gordon 10th fastest, followed by Ryan Newman (12th) and Brad Keselowski (13th).
Five-time and defending Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson was the slowest of the Chasers was 19th and Dale Earnhardt was 18th.
Austin Dillon, grandson of car owner Richard Childress, will make his Sprint Cup debut as he qualified 26th.
David Smith, Josh Wise and Mike Skinner all failed to qualify for Sunday’s race.
For Biffle, not known as a pole winner, it was a huge deal however. In ten years and 324 races this was only his eighth pole in his Sprint Cup car, second this year which ties a season high for Biffle.
“It was a really good lap, it stuck to the track real well,” said Biffle the two-time winner and defending champion, who lapped the Kansas Speedway mile and a half oval at 174.887mph edging Edwards’ speed of 174.571mph.
The pole winner was surprised at his accomplishment. “Never guessed we’d be on the pole. We were 35th off the truck and that had a lot to do. (It) says a lot about the team. Today was a trying day. He (his crew chief) just stayed calm, head in the game. If we keep do that we’re going to win a lot of races.”
Edwards, who is tied with Kevin Harvick for the Sprint Cup series lead, wasn’t too upset with losing the pole. This is the best we ever qualified here so I’m not going to be frustrated. Pretty excited to have an all-Ford front row.”
It’s fourth time this year that Roush Fenway cars have locked up the front row.
Kyle Busch, who was third fastest in a Toyota, explained it was “better than we expected but not as good as we wanted. The wind blowing today was kind of a handful for a number of cars.”
Matt Kenseth, another Roush Fenway driver was fourth fastest.
Chaser Denny Hamlin was seventh fastest and Jeff Gordon 10th fastest, followed by Ryan Newman (12th) and Brad Keselowski (13th).
Five-time and defending Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson was the slowest of the Chasers was 19th and Dale Earnhardt was 18th.
Austin Dillon, grandson of car owner Richard Childress, will make his Sprint Cup debut as he qualified 26th.
David Smith, Josh Wise and Mike Skinner all failed to qualify for Sunday’s race.