He's the star: Kyle Busch claims pole for Sprint All-Star Race

By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Article Rating: 3.0
Rate this Article
David Griffin / NASCAR Scene

David Griffin / NASCAR Scene

CONCORD, N.C. – About the only thing that can slow Kyle Busch down is the checkered flag. The winner of two of the last three Sprint Cup races, Busch followed up his Craftsman Truck Series pole Friday by winning the pole for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
 
Busch’s pole-winning speed of 132.835 mph in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota included a pit stop in the all-star race’s unique qualifying format. Busch’s first lap on the track was fast, as was his pit entry and exit, as was his final lap around Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile track.
 
Of course, Busch has been fast everywhere this year, with eight victories over NASCAR’s three national series, including three in Cup. He’s not won the all-star race, nor had he won an all-star pole before Friday.
 
“Man, momentum is everything in this sport, I guess,” Busch said. “When you feel like everything is on your side, it keeps going.”
 
Busch will start alongside former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, whose No. 24 Chevrolet had a qualifying speed of 132.251 mph. Kurt Busch’s Penske Racing Dodge qualified third, meaning Kurt will line up behind Kyle at the start of Saturday’s race.
 
Martin Truex Jr. (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) qualified fourth, with Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing) fifth. Jamie McMurray (Roush Fenway) was sixth, followed by Jeff Burton (Richard Childress Racing), Ryan Newman (Penske), Clint Bowyer (RCR) and Bobby Labonte (Petty Enterprises).
 
Jimmie Johnson starts 21st after his time was disallowed when his No. 48 Hendrick crew performed work outside its pit box. A lug nut had fallen off the left front tire, but Johnson inched forward before stopping. The tire changer then replaced the lug nut, but Johnson’s car was outside the pit box.
 
Kevin Harvick (RCR) had a fast time but was penalized for a loose lug nut. He’ll start 16th. Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway) was too fast entering pit road and will start 19th.
 
Denny Hamlin spun his JGR Toyota entering pit road, and the resulting penalty and slow time forces him to start 20th in Saturday’s race.
 
The 24-car field will be filled out by the top two finishers in the preliminary Sprint Showdown and the top vote-getter who finishes on the lead lap in the Showdown.
 
The 100-lap race, broken into four 25-lap segments, is scheduled to begin at approximately 9 p.m. EDT Saturday.
 

Average Rating: 3.0

Comments

2 responses to "He's the star: Kyle Busch claims pole for Sprint All-Star Race"
  1. 1
    Tim Edick said:
    May 17, 2008 at 6:15 AM

    Keep it going Kyle. Show Mr. Hendricks he made a mistake by trading you for Jr.... A huge mistake!!!!

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    DON ZEIDLER said:
    May 17, 2008 at 10:56 AM

    That's the only reason i wan't this little baby racing!!just for that reason when an owner doe's not fulfill a contract and just busts a driver out on his face.why dosen't hendrick get back in the race car I will bet on the second turn he is in the wall!! same with joe gibbs go back to football.....

    Report as Abuse

Leave a Comment

Login

Search

Advanced Search

Latest Videos

Rain Tires in the Cup Series?

Rain Tires in the Cup Series?

After NASCAR used rain tires for the first time in its history for the Nationwide Series race in Montreal, Jim Duff and Lee Montgomery discuss whether they should be used in the Sprint Cup Series.

 

Most Rated Stories

Poll Position

Which organization has the best chance of having three drivers in the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup this season?

view the results