MENCS: Kyle Busch Captures Tales of the Turtles 400 Pole

Kyle Busch will lead the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field to green on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway. In the final round of Coors Light Pole Qualifying on Friday, Busch posted a 28.729, 187.963 mph. in the final round to score his seventh career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole of 2017.

Busch, a native from Las Vegas, led all three rounds of qualifying and comes into the weekend looking to continue Toyota’s dominance as the playoffs begin. The 2015 champion enters the weekend with two victories, 10 top five and 16 top 10 finishes through 26 races.

Busch’s teammate Denny Hamlin will start second in the Tales of the Turtles 400 on Sunday. Hamlin, in the final round of knockout qualifying, earned the spot by posting a 29.006, 186.168 mph. and will go for his third win of the season.

The Virginia native enters Chicago with 11 top five and 15 top 10 finishes through 26 events.

Martin Truex Jr. will round out the top three starters on Sunday. Truex, one of the biggest threats for this year’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship, posted a 29.049, 185.893 mph.

Truex enters the NASCAR Playoffs seeded first as the team captured four victories and numerous stage wins all throughout the year. The driver from New Jersey has 10 top five and 17 top 10 finishes.

The top-six starters are all playoff drivers. Joey Logano, who missed the playoffs due to an encumbered win earlier in the year, is the highest non-playoff starter in seventh.

Ryan Blaney did not post a time in the final round because the No. 21 Ford ran out of gas. Blaney will start 12th as they made it into the final round by placing sixth in round two.

Kasey Kahne will have the most work of any playoff driver on Sunday. That is because the No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet posted the 25th fastest time in round one. Kahne missed advancing into round two by just one spot.

There was one incident in the entire three rounds of Coors Light Pole Qualifying. The red flag came out in round two as Erik Jones in the No. 77 5-hour energy Toyota went around in turn four. Jones did not post another time in round two and will start 24th as a result.

A total of 40 drivers entered the race at Chicagoland Speedway. That means there were no DNQ’s on Friday.

Brett Winningham
Follow Me