I just received an alert that Kyle Busch has been stripped of the pole...
Kyle Busch tops brother Kurt, wins pole at Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500
40
By Jared Turner
The good news just keeps coming for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Five days after JGR won the Daytona 500 with Denny Hamlin and placed three drivers in the top five, the Toyota organization kept the pressure on Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway as Kyle Busch captured the pole for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (FOX, 12:30 p.m. ET).
Kyle’s older brother, Kurt, will start on the outside of Row 1 in his Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, followed in the top five by Jamie McMurray, Trevor Bayne and Ryan Newman.
Kyle Busch’s pole speed was 191.668 mph -- just a tad faster than brother Kurt’s top lap of 191.582.
“I hope after 500 miles, we can be the guy in Victory Lane, and he’ll be the guy saying, ‘I wish we had a little bit more,' ” Kurt said.
Just missing the cut for the final, 12-driver round was Daytona 500 winner Hamlin.
Hamlin will start 13th in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Also failing to make the third and final round was Dale Earnhardt Jr. (17th), Brad Keselowski (18th) and Jimmie Johnson (20th). Danica Patrick (26th) and Joey Logano (27th) missed the second round, failing to get into the top 24.
All 39 drivers who made qualifying attempts will compete in Sunday’s race, which marks the debut of the Sprint Cup Series’ new low-downforce aerodynamic package for 2016.
| POS. | CAR # | DRIVER | MANUFACTURER | SPONSOR | BEST SPEED | BEST TIME | BEHIND |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch DQd will start 39th |
| M&M's 75 | 191.668 | 28.925 | Leader |
| 2 | 41 | Kurt Busch |
| Monster Energy / Haas Automation | 191.582 | 28.938 | --0.013 |
| 3 | 1 | Jamie McMurray |
| McDonald’s | 190.130 | 29.159 | --0.234 |
| 4 | 6 | Trevor Bayne |
| Advocare Ford Fusion | 189.987 | 29.181 | --0.256 |
| 5 | 31 | Ryan Newman |
| Caterpillar | 189.961 | 29.185 | --0.260 |
| 6 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr |
| Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion | 189.863 | 29.200 | --0.275 |
| 7 | 4 | Kevin Harvick |
| Jimmy John's | 189.779 | 29.213 | --0.288 |
| 8 | 19 | Carl Edwards |
| Arris | 189.766 | 29.215 | --0.290 |
| 9 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| Dow | 189.681 | 29.228 | --0.303 |
| 10 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr |
| Furniture Row | 189.364 | 29.277 | --0.352 |
| 11 | 44 | Brian Scott |
| Twisted Tea | 188.591 | 29.397 | --0.472 |
| 12 | 5 | Kasey Kahne |
| Panasonic | 187.196 | 29.616 | --0.691 |
| 13 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| FedEx Ground | 190.385 | 29.120 | --0.195 |
| 14 | 20 | Matt Kenseth |
| Dollar General | 190.260 | 29.139 | --0.214 |
| 15 | 16 | Greg Biffle |
| Roush Performance Ford Fusion | 190.182 | 29.151 | --0.226 |
| 16 | 13 | Casey Mears |
| GEICO | 190.150 | 29.156 | --0.231 |
| 17 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr |
| Nationwide | 189.818 | 29.207 | --0.282 |
| 18 | 2 | Brad Keselowski |
| AutoTrader | 189.144 | 29.311 | --0.386 |
| 19 | 14 | Ty Dillon |
| Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boats | 189.138 | 29.312 | --0.387 |
| 20 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson |
| Lowe's | 188.790 | 29.366 | --0.441 |
| 21 | 42 | Kyle Larson |
| Target | 188.719 | 29.377 | --0.452 |
| 22 | 27 | Paul Menard |
| Valvoline / Menards | 188.713 | 29.378 | --0.453 |
| 23 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger |
| Kroger/Scott Products | 188.636 | 29.390 | --0.465 |
| 24 | 21 | Ryan Blaney |
| Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire + Auto Center | 187.449 | 29.576 | --0.651 |
| 25 | 24 | Chase Elliott |
| NAPA Auto Parts | 189.390 | 29.273 | --0.348 |
| 26 | 10 | Danica Patrick |
| Aspen Dental | 189.079 | 29.321 | --0.396 |
| 27 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| Shell Pennzoil | 189.041 | 29.327 | --0.402 |
| 28 | 43 | Aric Almirola |
| Smithfield | 188.565 | 29.401 | --0.476 |
| 29 | 15 | Clint Bowyer |
| Aaron’s | 188.028 | 29.485 | --0.560 |
| 30 | 38 | Landon Cassill |
| FR8 Auctions | 187.837 | 29.515 | --0.590 |
| 31 | 7 | Regan Smith |
| Nikko / RC ToyState Chevrolet | 187.392 | 29.585 | --0.660 |
| 32 | 34 | Chris Buescher |
| CSX – Play it Safe | 187.120 | 29.628 | --0.703 |
| 33 | 95 | Michael McDowell |
| Thrivent Financial | 185.903 | 29.822 | --0.897 |
| 34 | 23 | David Ragan |
| Dr. Pepper | 185.778 | 29.842 | --0.917 |
| 35 | 46 | Michael Annett |
| Pilot Flying J | 185.617 | 29.868 | --0.943 |
| 36 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| Sewanee, The University of the South / ZAK Products | 185.499 | 29.887 | --0.962 |
| 37 | 98 | Cole Whitt |
| Tweaker Energy Shot | 184.039 | 30.124 | --1.199 |
| 38 | 30 | Josh Wise |
| Curtis Key Plumbing | 183.820 | 30.160 | --1.235 |
| 39 | 32 | Jeffrey Earnhardt |
| Can - Am | 180.769 | 30.669 | --1.744 |
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
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KURT BUSCH ON ATLANTA POLE AFTER KYLE DISQUALIFIED
Kyle Busch topped Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Award qualifying Friday evening at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but it will be his brother, Kurt, who will start from the pole position in Sunday's Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (1 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN).
The reigning champion notched the best speed in the final round of qualifying at 191.668 mph, but it was announced around 7:15 p.m. ET that his No. 18 Toyota Camry had failed post-qualifying inspection, disallowing his speed. He will now start 39th.
By virtue of "Rowdy's" disqualification, the elder Busch, Kurt, will slide over to the pole position with the next best speed of 191.582 mph.
Kurt will be joined on the front row by Jamie McMurray, who scored a best speed of 190.130 mph.
Trevor Bayne (189.987 mph), Ryan Newman (189.961 mph) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (189.863 mph) rounded out the top five fastest in qualifying.
Notable drivers who failed to make the final round of 12 were Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., six-time champion Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson, who topped the sole practice session of the day.
Notable names who failed to move on on after the first round narrowed the field to 24 were Georgia native Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Danica Patrick .
| POS. | CAR # | DRIVER | MANUFACTURER | SPONSOR | BEST SPEED | BEST TIME | BEHIND |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 41 | Kurt Busch |
| Monster Energy / Haas Automation | 191.582 | 28.938 | Leader |
| 2 | 1 | Jamie McMurray |
| McDonald’s | 190.130 | 29.159 | --0.221 |
| 3 | 6 | Trevor Bayne |
| Advocare Ford Fusion | 189.987 | 29.181 | --0.243 |
| 4 | 31 | Ryan Newman |
| Caterpillar | 189.961 | 29.185 | --0.247 |
| 5 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr |
| Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion | 189.863 | 29.200 | --0.262 |
| 6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick |
| Jimmy John's | 189.779 | 29.213 | --0.275 |
| 7 | 19 | Carl Edwards |
| Arris | 189.766 | 29.215 | --0.277 |
| 8 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| Dow | 189.681 | 29.228 | --0.290 |
| 9 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr |
| Furniture Row | 189.364 | 29.277 | --0.339 |
| 10 | 44 | Brian Scott |
| Twisted Tea | 188.591 | 29.397 | --0.459 |
| 11 | 5 | Kasey Kahne |
| Panasonic | 187.196 | 29.616 | --0.678 |
| 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| FedEx Ground | 190.385 | 29.120 | --0.182 |
| 13 | 20 | Matt Kenseth |
| Dollar General | 190.260 | 29.139 | --0.201 |
| 14 | 16 | Greg Biffle |
| Roush Performance Ford Fusion | 190.182 | 29.151 | --0.213 |
| 15 | 13 | Casey Mears |
| GEICO | 190.150 | 29.156 | --0.218 |
| 16 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr |
| Nationwide | 189.818 | 29.207 | --0.269 |
| 17 | 2 | Brad Keselowski |
| AutoTrader | 189.144 | 29.311 | --0.373 |
| 18 | 14 | Ty Dillon |
| Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boats | 189.138 | 29.312 | --0.374 |
| 19 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson |
| Lowe's | 188.790 | 29.366 | --0.428 |
| 20 | 42 | Kyle Larson |
| Target | 188.719 | 29.377 | --0.439 |
| 21 | 27 | Paul Menard |
| Valvoline / Menards | 188.713 | 29.378 | --0.440 |
| 22 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger |
| Kroger/Scott Products | 188.636 | 29.390 | --0.452 |
| 23 | 21 | Ryan Blaney |
| Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire + Auto Center | 187.449 | 29.576 | --0.638 |
| 24 | 24 | Chase Elliott |
| NAPA Auto Parts | 189.390 | 29.273 | --0.335 |
| 25 | 10 | Danica Patrick |
| Aspen Dental | 189.079 | 29.321 | --0.383 |
| 26 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| Shell Pennzoil | 189.041 | 29.327 | --0.389 |
| 27 | 43 | Aric Almirola |
| Smithfield | 188.565 | 29.401 | --0.463 |
| 28 | 15 | Clint Bowyer |
| Aaron’s | 188.028 | 29.485 | --0.547 |
| 29 | 38 | Landon Cassill |
| FR8 Auctions | 187.837 | 29.515 | --0.577 |
| 30 | 7 | Regan Smith |
| Nikko / RC ToyState Chevrolet | 187.392 | 29.585 | --0.647 |
| 31 | 34 | Chris Buescher |
| CSX – Play it Safe | 187.120 | 29.628 | --0.690 |
| 32 | 95 | Michael McDowell |
| Thrivent Financial | 185.903 | 29.822 | --0.884 |
| 33 | 23 | David Ragan |
| Dr. Pepper | 185.778 | 29.842 | --0.904 |
| 34 | 46 | Michael Annett |
| Pilot Flying J | 185.617 | 29.868 | --0.930 |
| 35 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| Sewanee, The University of the South / ZAK Products | 185.499 | 29.887 | --0.949 |
| 36 | 98 | Cole Whitt |
| Tweaker Energy Shot | 184.039 | 30.124 | --1.186 |
| 37 | 30 | Josh Wise |
| Curtis Key Plumbing | 183.820 | 30.160 | --1.222 |
| 38 | 32 | Jeffrey Earnhardt |
| Can - Am | 180.769 | 30.669 | --1.731 |
| 39 | 18 | Kyle Busch |
| M&M's 75 | 0.000 | 0.000 | -28.938 |
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
Kurt Busch on Atlanta pole after Kyle disqualified | NASCAR.com
Pit Stall Selections:
The selections of pit stalls for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #41-Kurt Busch chose pit stall 3 [the first pit stall available - 1 & 2 are not being used at Atlanta].
Outside pole sitter #1-McMurray took the 43rd and final pit stall.
#6-Bayne, who starts 3rd took the 11th pit stall, with an opening behind it.
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The selections of pit stalls for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #41-Kurt Busch chose pit stall 3 [the first pit stall available - 1 & 2 are not being used at Atlanta].
Outside pole sitter #1-McMurray took the 43rd and final pit stall.
#6-Bayne, who starts 3rd took the 11th pit stall, with an opening behind it.
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