Kyle Busch won the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Heluva Good at the Glen, setting the track qualifying record with a lap of 126.421 mph.
It was Busch’s first pole of the season and eighth of his career. Jeff Gordon set the previous record of 124.580 mph in 2003 on the 2.45-mile road course.
“It’s cool to come out here and get the pole,” said Busch, who won the 2008 race at Watkins Glen. “Joey [Logano] got it in Sonoma, and I got it here, so Joe Gibbs Racing swept the pole at the road courses this year. Hopefully, we can win here Sunday.” Logano, from Middletown, qualified 13th.
AJ Allmendinger was second, just ahead of teammate Marcos Ambrose. Jimmie Johnson and Juan Pablo Montoya rounded out the top five. Montoya won at Watkins Glen last year. Hartford Courant
“It surprised me a little bit,” Busch said of his lap, the last turned in the qualifying session. “Being a track record is pretty awesome.”
He wasn’t surprised, though, that it’s race No. 22 of the season and he’s just now a pole winner.
“I count the Kentucky pole,” Busch said. “I earned it. I was fastest in practice there.”
Busch started in the No. 1 position for that race when qualifying was rained out.
“It pays dividends to win it on your own, especially on a road course. I’ve never won a road course pole before. This feels good; I’ve won races on road courses but yet to be the fastest guy for one lap. Today we did that.”
Busch was the last driver to win here from the No. 1 starting spot, having been awarded the pole in 2008 when qualifying was rained out. Scene Daily
Ambrose, who was fastest in Friday’s final practice session, said he underdrove the car slightly on his qualifying lap.
“It would have been great to be on the front row with A.J., but we’ll start third for the race,” said Ambrose, who would like to add his name to the list of first-time winners this year. “We’ve got a great package. I feel really confident, and we’ll just see how the day unfolds.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how it goes on fuel strategy and brake wear and all those factors that come into play on a road course. Hopefully, we make the right judgment calls in getting the car ready for the race.” NASCAR.com
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NASCAR Sprint Cup: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen - Race Line-Up
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