Flat-track ace Ryan Newman stole the show in Cup qualifying with a blistering lap of 27.904 seconds….a new track record! Kasey Kahne will accompany Ryan on the front row with another pair of Chevy’s taking up row 2 with Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch. Martin Truex Jr. was the highest qualifying non-chaser in 5th and Carl Edwards has the worst starting spot among chasers in 26th.
Ryan Newman now has 51 NASCAR Sprint Cup poles; seven of which have come at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He’s won here three times here and a fourth win is definitely a possibility Sunday (or Monday pending Mother Nature’s plans…). Ryan is well known for his ability to muscle a car around flat tracks like Loudon, Indianapolis, Martinsville and Phoenix. In fact, his last four Cup victories dating back to 2010 have all come at tracks with little-to-no banking.
Chasers Starting Position
Ryan Newman (1st)
Kasey Kahne (2nd)
Jeff Gordon (3rd)
Kurt Busch (4th)
Joey Logano (6th)
Kevin Harvick (8th)
Matt Kenseth (9th)
Greg Biffle (10th)
Jimmie Johnson (11th)
Kyle Busch (12th)
Clint Bowyer (16th)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (17th)
Carl Edwards (26th)
In qualifying, there was one major incident and that involved Josh Wise who was attempting to make his 4th career start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It appears he broke a right front shock coming out of turn four which sent him barreling into the outside wall. He emerged from the car alright but his Ford Fusion wasn’t so lucky; he’ll start last and in a back-up car.
Brian Vickers wanted to focus on his efforts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series today so veteran racer Kenny Wallace got the opportunity to qualify the Aaron’s Dream Machine; he clocked in 29th but Brian will have to start at the rear of the field Sunday. He started 13th earlier this year when he won this race. Michael McDowell will be piloting the No.51 this weekend, Bobby Labonte is back in the No.47 and Kevin Swindell starts 33rd in his NSCS debut for Swan Racing. Scroll down to see the complete starting lineup for the 17th Annual Sylvania 300!
1.) Ryan Newman
2.) Kasey Kahne
3.) Jeff Gordon
4.) Kurt Busch
5.) Martin Truex Jr.
6.) Joey Logano
7.) Paul Menard
8.) Kevin Harvick
9.) Matt Kenseth
10.) Greg Biffle
11.) Jimmie Johnson
12.) Kyle Busch
13.) Aric Almirola
14.) Denny Hamlin
15.) Juan Pablo Montoya
16.) Clint Bowyer
17.) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
18.) Mark Martin
19.) David Ragan
20.) Brad Keselowski
21.) Danica Patrick
22.) Marcos Ambrose
23.) Jamie McMurray
24.) David Gilliland
25.) Jeff Burton
26.) Carl Edwards
27.) Michael McDowell
28.) Bobby Labonte
29.) Kenny Wallace
30.) Travis Kvapil
31.) Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
32.) Landon Cassill
33.) Kevin Swindell
34.) Casey Mears
35.) David Reutimann
36.) Joe Nemechek
37.) JJ Yeley
38.) Dave Blaney
39.) Tony Rains
40.) Scott Riggs
41.) Johnny Sauter
42.) Timmy Hill
43.) Josh Wise