Matt Kenseth: Wins Michigan Pole

Matt Kenseth landed the Coors Light Pole Award in Friday afternoon qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, leading a 1-2-3 sweep of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers at Michigan worldwide Speedway. It was Kenseth’s third pole position of the season and 16th of his career.

The qualifying session was the second time Friday that teams had a chance to try NASCAR’s high drag package.

He was followed by teammates Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards.

NASCAR announced after qualifying that the Chase for the Sprint Cup will be held under the original 2015 rules, meaning the track-specific packages at Kentucky, Darlington, Michigan and Indianapolis won’t be used.

“I don’t think anyone’s really going to be able to answer that until Sunday night, after the race is over”, Kenseth said. “We were a little off in practice, we needed to drive a little bit better, and we needed more speed”.

Denny Hamlin narrowly missed earning the pole for Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan worldwide Speedway. “Wasn’t sure we were going to have it”.

Edwards said he might have had something for Kenseth and Hamlin. “You want to search for that clean air, maybe it widens the race track out”.

Kevin Ward Jr. was killed last August at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park when he exited his auto under caution in an apparent attempt to confront Stewart. It’s going to be a different balance – no question about it going out there wide open, or close to it right now.

Due to the package, NASCAR elected to forgo its multi-car group qualifying in favor of single vehicle runs Friday.

“Really good – all the Gibbs Toyota Camrys had good speed”, said Kenseth, who recorded his first pole at MIS in 33 races.

Gibbs’ fourth driver, Kyle Busch, pushed his Toyota to sixth fastest in qualifying at 195.450, a hallmark day for team owner and former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs.

Until then, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., considers a short-term solution. Jeff Gordon in his final race at Michigan failed to advance to the final round, he will start 21st Sunday. The fill lineup can be found here, Friday’s qualifying results here.