Edwards Sizzles In Michigan Pole Run

Carl Edwards made it clear that Michigan International Speedway is still “home court” for Roush Fenway Racing Friday, winning the pole for Sunday’s “Quicken Loans 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with · a fast lap in 35.564 seconds, at 202.452 mph. 

It was Edwards’ 12^th career Sprint Cup pole in 316 starts and his first since Daytona in Feb. of 2012, a span of 49 starts. For Roush Fenway Racing, it was their 85^th pole all-time and their third at MIS, and Edwards said his performance was a sign that RFR is turning the courner after a disappointing start to the 2013 season.

“The process that is going to put us out in front of Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and the rest of these guys every Sunday is just starting. We can use positive things like this pole position and hopefully a win… to move forward and gain faith in a better process. I think that is going to be great. The engine is a big part of it and today.

“The engine group came through huge.”

Kurt Busch qualified on the outside pole for Sunday’s race, his fourth front-row start of 2013 including three of the last four races. Kasey Kahne was third, followed by Paul Menard and Aric Almirola. Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Juan Pablo Montoya comleted the Top-10. 

The top 13 drivers all exceeded 200 mph in qualifying, but Edwards said he does not expect similarly high speeds on race day.

“This new car is so fast here and has so much grip,” he said. “When you pull the tape off, you have to really make the car work. Having that tape on there with all that downforce can make the car feel really good and make it go for a lap, but it will be a tough race. The race will be different and hopefully we can master that whole problem and go to Victory Lane. That would be huge.”

A total of 44 drivers took time Friday, with Scott Riggs failing to make the race in the Xxxtreme Motorsports Ford. 

POS # Driver

1 99 Carl Edwards

2 78 Kurt Busch

3 5 Kasey Kahne

4 27 Paul Menard

5 43 Aric Almirola

6 22 Joey Logano

7 33 Austin Dillon

8 20 Matt Kenseth

9 18 Kyle Busch

10 42 Juan Pablo Montoya

11 11 Denny Hamlin

12 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

13 56 Martin Truex Jr.

14 14 Tony Stewart

15 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #

16 2 Brad Keselowski

17 48 Jimmie Johnson

18 31 Jeff Burton

19 16 Greg Biffle

20 51 Bobby Labonte

21 29 Kevin Harvick

22 55 Mark Martin

23 9 Marcos Ambrose

24 13 Casey Mears

25 21 Trevor Bayne

26 38 David Gilliland

27 15 Clint Bowyer

28 1 Jamie McMurray

29 24 Jeff Gordon

30 98 Michael McDowell

31 34 David Ragan

32 47 AJ Allmendinger

33 83 David Reutimann

34 30 David Stremme

35 39 Ryan Newman

36 7 Dave Blaney

37 10 Danica Patrick #

38 35 Josh Wise

39 32 Ken Schrader

40 36 JJ Yeley

41 93 Travis Kvapil

42 87 Joe Nemechek

43 19 Mike Bliss

44 44 Scott Riggs