Team Chevy Drivers Occupy Three of the Top-5 Starting Positions For Sunday’s Race
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Kasey Kahne No. 5 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, earned his second straight pole in NASCAR Sprint Cup series (NSCS) competition in the past four weeks, and fifth top-10 start in 2012, by capturing the top spot in today’s qualifying session at the .586-mile Virginia short track. It was Kasey’s 24th career Coors Light Pole Award but was his first career NSCS pole at Martinsville Speedway in 17 races.
A total of 46 cars took turns at the front row for Sunday’s race and when the 43-car field was set, Chevy drivers took the front row and three of the top-5 starting spots for the 500-lap race. Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Budweiser is Back Chevrolet, held the top spot until being bumped by Kahne by a mere 0.016 seconds. It is the best qualifying effort (barring events where the race was set by points) since Phoenix International Raceway in November of 2006 for Harvick. It was also his fourth top-10 start of 2012.
In addition to Kahne and Harvick, the other Team Chevy driver starting in the top-5 will be Ryan Newman, No. 39 Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet – 5th. Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet was the only other Team Chevy driver to qualify inside the top-10 in a tightly stacked field.
Other Chevrolet drivers of note were: Paul Menard, No. 27 Menards/LIBMAN Chevrolet – 11th: Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 88 AMP Energy/Diet Mtn. Dew/National Guard Chevrolet – 14th; Tony Stewart, No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet -15th, Regan Smith No. 78 Furniture Row/CSX Play it Safe Chevrolet – 17th; Jeff Burton No. 31 BB&T Chevrolet – 18th; Jaime McMurray No. 1 Belkin Chevrolet – 20th; and Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 myLowe’s Chevrolet – 22nd.
Rounding out the top-5 were Denny Hamlin (Toyota) third, followed by Clint Bowyer (Toyota) in fourth.
The Goody’s 500 is scheduled to begin on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., ET with coverage on FOX, MRN Radio and Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 9.
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