Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson to start from pole in annual all-star race
Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson has his car serviced during Sprint All-Star qualifying at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
// David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
CONCORD, N.C. – Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR’s three-time Sprint Cup champion, will start from the top spot when the series’ annual all-star event kicks off Saturday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet won the pole for the 25th running of the annual non-points event with a fast lap of 121.416 mph to earn his first pole position in the unique event.
“Tonight’s a lot about bragging rights,” Johnson said. “Track position, as important as it will be in the race, to be where we are – it’s a great situation. We focused on it hard today and everybody did their jobs.”
Kurt Busch (Penske Racing No. 12 Dodge) was second fastest at 122.187 mph, followed by Matt Kenseth (Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Ford), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet) and Mark Martin (Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet).
“I think especially with the new format ... it’s going to be real important,” crew chief Chad Knaus said. “Those two early runs have
position-determining pit stops, so the pit crew, coming in and performing the way they did, I think that’s going to give them a little boost of confidence going into tomorrow. Which is never a bad thing.”
Johnson is a two-time winner of the event (2003, 2006). Both wins, however, came under much different formats. In 2003, Johnson won a 90-lap event that featured three segments (40, 30 and 20 laps each) with only a pre-determined number of drivers advancing after each segment.
The format in 2006 also featured 90 laps (40, 30, 20), but with no eliminations after each segment. However, a random number of the top cars were inverted between the first and second segments.
This year’s format will consist of an opening 50-lap segment, two 20-lap segments and a final 10-lap showdown.
“Track position is so important, that front row is really the goal,” Johnson said. “The inside and the outside are plenty fast ...unfortunately
I think we pick pits based on a different scenario, so we don’t get to take advantage of that.”
Pit stall selection for the event is based on the final results of the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, held May 14.
“With the way the pit road is situated, with not every pit stall being taken, everybody gets and in-opening and and out-opening, so ... I think starting on the pole is going to be way more critical than your pit position. Although obviously sitting on the pole I’d rather go out there and pick pits right now and have my choice.”
Busch will be seeking his first win in the event in his eighth career start. He has finished 19th or worse in his last three attempts.
“Overall, I’m very happy with our lap,” he said. “To be starting on the outside pole is almost as good as starting on the pole with the way the track races.
“Right now, the way our car drove at ... some of the big mile-and-a-halves, it really enjoyed the outside lane. So that’s why I’m
stoked to be second. I think that’s as good as the pole.”
Kasey Kahne, the defending winner of the event, qualified eighth. The Sprint Showdown, a 40-lap preliminary race featuring drivers who
failed to qualify for the all-star event, is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.
The top two finishers, as well as a third driver selected by fan vote, will advance to the feature.
