Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth will start from the front row of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race thanks to a rainout in qualifying.
Harvick, the current points leader, said: “This might be the worst starting front row in history,” referring to their low production of poles.
Kenseth was, likewise, happy: “We don’t usually qualify very well here, I don’t really qualify very well anywhere but especially here, so to start second is good. The only bad thing is you have nowhere to go but backwards, but I’m happy to start second. We got all of our practice in, so it’s good.”
Under NASCAR rules, in a rain situation, the cars line up by owner’s points.
Harvick continued: "Obviously this is the place where if you're going to have that happen (qualifying canceled due to rain) and start up front, this is the place you want to do it. But this is a good place to have that happen and I'm looking forward to both races (Truck & Cup)."
Kenseth added: “This place, I've started in the back many times and been lapped many times. You struggle all day trying to stay on the lead lap, so hopefully, if you start up front and don't make mistakes and keep the track position, it can be an advantage here to get a decent finish."
Jimmie Johnson, the scourge of competition by virtue of wins numbers, will start third. He was a little disappointed: "We were focused in on qualifying trim. It has been a little more difficult for us, granted, we haven't qualified here for a long, long time. I guess once in the last six or seven attempts. The one attempt we had last fall wasn't that good so we focused a lot on that today.”
There were 46 cars entered, so Terry Cook, Casey Mears, and Johnny Sauter, who had the lowest points were sent home.
Sunday’s 500-mile race at the half-mile paper-clip shaped track will see the debut of the spoiler on the rear deck of the stock cars replacing the wing which had been used until now.
Narain Karthikeyan will start 11th in the NASCAR truck race on Saturday, his NASCAR debut.
As the Truck qualifying was rained out he'll start 11th based on the owner's points (Wyler Racing) for the vehicle.
Harvick, the current points leader, said: “This might be the worst starting front row in history,” referring to their low production of poles.
Kenseth was, likewise, happy: “We don’t usually qualify very well here, I don’t really qualify very well anywhere but especially here, so to start second is good. The only bad thing is you have nowhere to go but backwards, but I’m happy to start second. We got all of our practice in, so it’s good.”
Under NASCAR rules, in a rain situation, the cars line up by owner’s points.
Harvick continued: "Obviously this is the place where if you're going to have that happen (qualifying canceled due to rain) and start up front, this is the place you want to do it. But this is a good place to have that happen and I'm looking forward to both races (Truck & Cup)."
Kenseth added: “This place, I've started in the back many times and been lapped many times. You struggle all day trying to stay on the lead lap, so hopefully, if you start up front and don't make mistakes and keep the track position, it can be an advantage here to get a decent finish."
Jimmie Johnson, the scourge of competition by virtue of wins numbers, will start third. He was a little disappointed: "We were focused in on qualifying trim. It has been a little more difficult for us, granted, we haven't qualified here for a long, long time. I guess once in the last six or seven attempts. The one attempt we had last fall wasn't that good so we focused a lot on that today.”
There were 46 cars entered, so Terry Cook, Casey Mears, and Johnny Sauter, who had the lowest points were sent home.
Sunday’s 500-mile race at the half-mile paper-clip shaped track will see the debut of the spoiler on the rear deck of the stock cars replacing the wing which had been used until now.
Narain Karthikeyan will start 11th in the NASCAR truck race on Saturday, his NASCAR debut.
As the Truck qualifying was rained out he'll start 11th based on the owner's points (Wyler Racing) for the vehicle.