SPARTA, Ky. – Joe Gibbs Racing star Kyle Busch will start tomorrow’s inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400” from the pole position thanks to a fast 182.803 mph (29.540 seconds) lap that led today’s final practice session after traditional qualifying was rained out.
The driver who took his third career Kentucky Speedway victory in last night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” will start the inaugural NSCS race at the track alongside Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who turned in a quick a 182.500 mph (29.589 seconds) in final practice.
“We’re really looking forward to the race tomorrow and being able to start up front. We have a really good car. We unloaded well and it’s been fast much of the weekend. Wished we could have run a lap and put it on the pole for sure, but with the way the weather worked out, we just took it based off the practice speed that we had earlier today,” Busch said.
Kurt Busch will start third after turning his best final practice lap at 182.346 mph (29.614 seconds) and Red Bull Racing’s Kasey Kahne, who delivered a 182.291 mph (26.623 seconds) practice lap, will start fourth.
“You can just feel the atmosphere; it’s a bit more electric. I know the fans are going to be coming in to fill this place up. It’s going to be an exciting start to the race.
“For us to start third, it’s a good effort from our practice runs. We were close. The funny thing is we didn’t really think weather was going to be an issue. I was just gunning for a fast lap in practice. That way I would be heading out late in the qualifying order.
“We didn’t know that it was going to be cancelled this way. Would we have pushed harder knowing that there was rain? We would have done the same thing,” Kurt Busch said.
Kentucky Speedway parking lots open at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow and fans can enjoy shopping and interactive displays on the display midway before gates open at 2:00 p.m. Country music artist Clay Walker takes the prerace concert stage at 5:00 p.m., and the 43-car “Quaker State 400” field will rumble to life just after 7:30 p.m. in front of a sellout crowd.
Standing room only tickets can be purchased at the speedway gates.
