NSCS Qualifying Recap – Busch Out Front

Kyle Busch won last year’s ‘Brickyard 400’ and looks to be on pace to do so again. The driver of the No. 18 Skittles Toyota captured the Coors Light Pole Award and will lead the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field to green in the 23rd Annual Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard. This is the second pole of the 2016 season for Busch. The Las Vegas, Nev. native’s best previous start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was seventh in 2012. 

Busch recorded a lap time of 48.438 seconds to finish second behind the No. 48 Lowe’s Red Vest Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson at 48.435 seconds in round one of the three-round, multi-car qualifying session, which just concluded at the 2.5-mile track located in Speedway, Ind. Johnson would not advance to the next round, coming up short in the 13th spot. Busch lead the field in the next two rounds with a 48.589-second run in round two and a time of 48.745 seconds in the final round to grab the top-starting position. 

Last year’s pole winner Carl Edwards will join his teammate on the front row. Piloting the No. 19 Stanley Toyota, the Missouri native earned his second consecutive leading start. Edwards recorded a time of 48.503 seconds in round one. Round two saw him move up to third at 48.756 seconds and a 48.768-second lap in round three. 

Tony Stewart has a great shot to win in his final season and final start at IMS. The No. 14 Mobil 1/ChevySummerSellDown Chevrolet driver, who will start third in tomorrow’s event, was sixth in round one with a lap time of 48.542 seconds. Round two saw the Columbus, Ind. resident move up to second behind Busch with a time of 48.679 seconds. Stewart’s lap of 48.826 seconds was good enough for third place in round two and his fourth top-10 start in 12 races since he came back from a winter injury. 

Air time for the 23rd Annual 23rd Annual Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard is tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM ET. Watch on NBCSN and listen on the IMS Radio Network and Sirius XM Channel 90. 

Qualifying Results

Round 1

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kyle Busch
3. Brad Keselowski

Round 2

1. Kyle Busch
2. Tony Stewart
3. Carl Edwards

Round 3 & Top 10 Starters

1. Kyle Busch
2. Carl Edwards
3. Tony Stewart
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Ryan Newman
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Martin Truex Jr.
9. Jamie McMurray
10. Kyle Larson

Katie Williams
Latest posts by Katie Williams (see all)