Brad Keselowski had a game plan coming into the debut of NASCAR’s version of knockout qualifying. Keselowski turned a lap of 139.384 mph on Friday to set a new track record at Phoenix International Raceway, knocking out fellow Team Penske teammate, Joey Logano.
It was Keselowski’s fourth career pole and his first since New Hampshire last season. Keselowski ran two laps in the opening segment, placing second behind Logano, then ran five laps in the final segment, which was fast enough for the pole.
Keselowski said that the new qualifying format fits his style. “I’m curious to see the feedback we get from our fans whether or not they liked it,” Keselowski said. Despite the new format, Keselowski added that he believed, “Nine times out of ten, the fastest cars will be out front.”
Jamie McMurray, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the Daytona 500, last Sunday, rounded out the top five. Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top 12 who survived the first round cut-offs.
Hamlin, 2012 spring winner at Phoenix, attempted to pull a buzzer beater at the end of the second round. Technically, the ten minutes concluded before Hamlin crossed the finish line to complete his lap. NASCAR allowed the lap to count. However, it did not make a difference in Hamlin’s overall starting position for Sunday.
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s Vice President for Competition, came to the media center, to answer questions. When asked about why NASCAR did not allow drivers to cool their engines off on pit road, Pemberton said that some drivers privately told NASCAR, “Do not let anyone talk you into putting cool-down units.” Drivers were forced to coast around the track to cool their engines, in an attempt to save their equipment, as they were not allowed to do so on pit road.
The overall reaction was mixed for the debut of knockout qualifying. There were people who favored single-car-qualifying, other people loved the new format, others did not understand the format at all, and there were those that were upset about Fox Sports 1 being delayed 13 minutes. It’s going to be fun the rest of this weekend.
