Edwards tops speed chart during practice at New Hampshire

Sunday’s race, which will be the 42nd Sprint Cup race in New Hampshire Motor Speedway history, is expected to draw more than 100,000 fans.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s pole-winning lap came at 137.980 miles per hour and in 27.604 seconds at the New Hampshire mile oval.

NASCAR drivers and fans have descended on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon for the Sylvania 300.

“We got a great start to the Chase and we’re keeping it rolling”, said Edwards, who was second in the Chase for the Championship opening event Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.

“We knew qualifying here would be important”.

Kurt Busch will start third Sunday.

Harvick said, “There’s a fine line between being aggressive and not being aggressive enough (in qualifying)”.

Joining Edwards on the front row is Kevin Harvick, the defending series champion who finds himself entering the second Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff race in a precarious position. “I think I just left a little out there today”.

“I just do what we have to do to focus on what we need to do looking forward”, Harvick said. He was followed by Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski.

All of the top-five in qualifying Friday were Chase participants.