BROOKLYN, Mich. – The last car to take a lap during Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying Friday at Michigan Int’l Speedway proved to be the fastest.
Michigan native Brad Keselowski turned in the fastest lap in qualifying to earn the pole for the Consumers Energy 400 on Sunday afternoon. His 37.801-second lap at 190.471 mph aboard his No. 2 Team Penske Ford was enough to give Keselowski his second pole of the season and the 16th of his career.
“This Discount Tire Ford Mustang has been incredible since we unloaded,” Keselowski said. “We were really fast in practice and then everybody started picking up a bunch here towards the end of qualifying and I got a little nervous.
“Paul Wolfe (crew chief) and the team did a great job. We picked up just enough to get our second pole here. Hopefully we can convert it into a win.”
Kevin Harvick qualified second to give Ford a sweep of the front row for Sunday’s race. He was .076 seconds off the pace set by Keselowski.
Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron and Alex Bowman qualified third and fourth, with Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer putting down the fifth fastest lap.
Watkins Glen winner Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Paul Menard completed the top-10 in qualifying.
However, the time of Dillon as well as his teammate, Daniel Hemric, were disallowed because their cars lacked full functional alternators. They will start Sunday’s race from the rear of the field.
Consumers Energy 400 Starting Lineup
1. Brad Keselowski
2. Kevin Harvick
3. William Byron
4. Alex Bowman
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Chase Elliott
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Joey Logano
9. Paul Menard
10. Jimmie Johnson
11. Daniel Suarez
12. Aric Almirola
13. Kurt Busch
14. Denny Hamlin
15. Martin Truex Jr.
16. Erik Jones
17. Kyle Larson
18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
19. Matt Tifft
20. Ryan Newman
21. Ty Dillon
22. Kyle Busch
23. Michael McDowell
24. David Ragan
25. Chris Buescher
26. Bubba Wallace
27. Matt DiBenedetto
28. Landon Cassill
29. Ryan Preece
30. Ross Chastain
31. Corey LaJoie
32. Quin Houff
33. Austin Theriault
34. Cody Ware
35. Reed Sorenson
36. Spencer Boyd
37. Austin Dillon
38. Daniel Hemric