Joey Logano will lead the field to the green flag Sunday afternoon in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Posting a lap at 191.646 mph, the driver of the No. 22 Ford edged Kevin Harvick to take his first pole of the season.
“We made zero changes from the time we unloaded to the time we qualified,” Logano said. “This is a fun place to qualify because it definitely rewards bigger guts. The more you go for it, the more you’re rewarded.”
Talladega winner Aric Almirola will start third, followed by Ryan Blaney. Brad Keselowski rounds out the top five starting positions. Erik Jones will start sixth, followed by his teammates Kyle Busch, Daniel Suárez and Denny Hamlin. Alex Bowman rounds out the top 10, while Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. complete the top 12.
Playoff drivers Chase Elliott and Clint Bowyer didn’t advance to the Round of 12 and will start 13th and 14th, respectively. Elliott has nothing to lose this weekend as he locked himself into the Round of 8 with a victory at Dover International Speedway.
Kyle Larson was the only playoff driver that failed to advance to the second round when he posted the 27th-quickest lap. He’ll start at the rear of the field after being forced to a backup car following a crash in practice earlier in the day.
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400 STARTING LINEUP
Cup drivers will have a pair of 50-minute practices Saturday (Oct. 20) at 9:30 a.m. CT and 12:05 p.m. CT.
The Hollywood Casino 400 will run Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. CT, and the playoff field will be narrowed from 12 to eight drivers.
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Top 5 are Fords. Somewhere (anywhere but in charge) Brian is talking to himself. “That wouldn’t happen on my watch. Ooooh, wait! Do I have to return the Lexus?”
Too funny~!
The Ford engineers have found the latest trick last week only SHR had it. This week its spreading across the fleet.
By next year the others will have caught up.
Didn’t a certain Ford Driver (Yes, Mr. Keselowski, I’m pointing at you) say at the beginning of the year that because of the age of the Fusion body style (2013), the Fords would be at a major disadvantage to the Toyotas (2017) and Chevrolets (2018)? Whatever! As one who cheers for the manufacturer first, and being a bonified Ford lover (cut me and my blood is Ford engine blue), I love it! Plus, wouldn’t it be an absolute hoot if it ended up an all-Ford final! That would more than make up for 2015 when there were no Fords in the final. You can bet NASCAR will be really looking at the Mustang in 2019.
SHR worked very hard last off season with there aero on the underside of the cars and that is where they found their speed.
I would be surprised if they passed along their secrets to Penske unless Ford forced their hand to ensure a championship this year.