HAMPTON, Ga. - Kevin Harvick saved the best for last.
The 2014 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion turned in the fastest lap in the final round of qualifying, nabbing the pole for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Harvick put down a lap at 190.398 mph in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Fusion to nab his 18th career series pole, and his second at Atlanta.
It came as several teams struggled to get through pre-qualifying technical inspection, which NASCAR officials said was mostly due to template issues.
“We have had two different styles of body on this chassis so I think that says a lot about our team. Rodney (Childers) and everybody on this No. 4 Jimmy John’s Busch Ford do a good job. We didn’t spend very much time at all on qualifying today. We really concentrated on trying to get our race stuff right. I think as we had a couple hours to work on it there we were able to dial the setup in and made it better in every round.
“I was able to see the last round going into turn one. The first two rounds that sun was so bright. I am really excited to get our first pole with Ford. Everybody has done a great job. We have spent a lot of time getting the cars transformed into where they are today. To be at the race track and already have a win for the 41 and a pole for us and everybody running good says a lot about the effort that has gone into this transition.”
Ryan Newman turned in the second fastest time with a lap at 189.870 mph after leading in practice earlier in the day, as well as pacing the second of the three qualifying rounds.
Not only would a pole run have been his first in 117 races, but it would have broken a tie between Newman and the late Buddy Baker for seventh on the all-time pole list.
“I really wanted to beat my old buddy, Buddy Baker’s record there,” Newman said. “Been tied with him for a while so that was kind of rough. But I’m just proud of the guys and proud of the effort. It is the litmus test for us for a lot of the rest of the season. It was a good start for sure.”
Kyle Busch was quickest in the first round of qualifying, but was only able to muster the third quickest time in the final round.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. was fourth fastest, with Brad Keselowski fifth.
Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex, Jr., Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. rounded out the top 12 qualifiers.
Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch made it to the second round of qualifying, but just missed the cut to make the final round. He will roll of 13th on Sunday.
Defending race winner Jimmie Johnson was also able to make the second round, but came up 18th quickest, locking him out of the run for the pole position.
Five drivers, Jeffery Earnhardt, Michael McDowell, Cole Whitt, Derrike Cope and Cody Ware did not record times in qualifying. They were unable to pass through technical inspection in time, and were unable to attempt a qualifying run. But with only 39 cars entered in Sunday’s race, all five will be able to start the event with their spots in the line up set on owner’s points.
Several other drivers had issues in making it through tech in time to qualify, with Elliott, Harvick, Truex, Jr. and Kurt Busch passing just minutes prior to the start of qualifying.
According to NASCAR Vice President of Officiating and Technical Inspection Elton Sawyer, the majority of the problems for the teams came from clearing the templates.
“The teams asked for this,” Sawyer said. “In the offseason we worked with them, we told them what we were going to do, they’ve asked us to stay consistent and that’s exactly what we’ve done. At 5:00 p.m. today we had every car through the inspection process one time so we feel good about that.”
WDUN will have live PRN Radio coverage of this weekend's NASCAR action from the Atlanta Motor Speedway, beginning with Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series Rinnai 250 at 1:30 PM on 102.9 FM. On Sunday, it's the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quick Trip 500 beginning at 1:30 pm on 102.9 FM and AM 550.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500 – March 3, 2017
Sunday’s Starting Line Up
Row 1
1. 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Ford 29.118 190.398
2. 31 Ryan Newman Caterpillar Chevrolet 29.199 189.870
Row 2
3. 18 Kyle Busch Snickers Crisper Toyota 29.202 189.850
4. 17 Ricky Stehnouse Jr. SunnyD Ford 29.356 188.854
Row 3
5. 2 Brad Keselowski Autotrader Ford 29.367 188.783
6. 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 29.374 188.738
Row 4
7. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald’s Chevrolet 29.397 188.591
8. 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet 29.533 187.722
Row 5
9. 78 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Toyota 29.534 187.716
10. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota 29.544 187.652
Row 6
11. 24 Chase Elliott NAPA Chevrolet 29.554 187.589
12. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nationwide Chevrolet 29.633 187.089
Row 7
13. 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford 29.649 186.988
14. 21 Ryan Blaney Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford 29.707 186.623
Row 8
15. 6 Trevor Bayne Liberty National Life Insurance Company Ford 29.710 186.604
16. 20 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Flexvolt Toyota 29.738 186.428
Row 9
17. 27 Paul Menard Richmond/Menards Chevrolet 29.743 186.397
18. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet 29.757 186.309
Row 10
19. 3 Austin Dillon DOW/Quikrete Chevrolet 29.780 186.165
20. 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger Click List Chevrolet 29.954 185.084
Row 11
21. 19 Daniel Suarez # ARRIS Toyota 29.963 185.028
22. 32 Matt DiBenedetto Can-Am/Kappa Ford 29.964 185.022
Row 12
23. 77 Erik Jones # SiriusXM Toyota 30.113 184.107
24. 10 Danica Patrick Aspen Dental Ford 30.344 182.705
Row 13
25. 14 Clint Bowyer Haas Automation Ford 29.723 186.522
26. 13 Ty Dillon # GEICO Chevrolet 29.787 186.121
Row 14
27. 34 Landon Cassill CSX Play It Safe Ford 29.919 185.300
28. 37 Chris Buescher Bush’s Beans Chevrolet 29.928 185.245
Row 15
29. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet 29.953 185.090
30. 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 30.034 184.591
Row 16
31. 23 Gray Gaulding # Dr Pepper Toyota 30.401 182.362
32. 83 Corey LaJoie # Dustless Blasting Toyota 30.598 181.188
Row 17
33. 15 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet 30.697 180.604
34. 38 David Ragan Camping World/Good Sam Ford 422.357 13.126
Row 18
35. 33 Jeffrey Earnhardt Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
36. 95 Michael McDowell WRL General Contractors Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
Row 19
37. 72 Cole Whitt Rinnai Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
38. 55 Derrike Cope Wade Tractor and Equipment Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
Row 20
39. 51 Cody Ware Spoonful of Music Foundation Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series
