For the second time in three races this season, Jeff Gordon will take the field to the green flag in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400. With a lap of 27.738 sec. (194.679 mph), the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet scored his first career pole and the 79th of his career at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and set a new track record. Joey Logano, whose record Gordon broke, will start on the outside pole. Gordon’s teammates Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will start on the second row, while Kyle Larson rounded out the top 5.
Qualifying wasn’t without its drama, though it was different than at Daytona. Just before the first round began, a NASCAR official saw a crew member pulling at the rear quarter panel on Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford, so it was pulled from the line on pit road to go back through inspection. The No. 2 team cleared inspection and was allowed to rejoin the rest of the field for qualifying. Keselowski will start 11th.
#NASCAR apparently has an issue with the wheel openings pic.twitter.com/sx7SLYOWEE
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) March 7, 2015
Meanwhile, Brett Moffitt, who will pilot the No. 34 Ford in David Ragan’s absence, was the last driver to make the field on speed, posting the 36th quickest lap. David Gilliland, Cole Whitt, Josh Wise, JJ Yeley, Jeb Burton, Landon Cassill and Brendan Gaughan were forced to use owner points.
Reed Sorenson, Travis Kvapil, Matt DiBenedetto, Mike Wallace and Mike Bliss failed to qualify.
Starting Lineup Kobalt Tools 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
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