Official Release

Teenager Erik Jones turned his first NASCAR XFINITY Series pole at Texas Motor Speedway into his first series victory Friday night, schooling NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. en route to the checkered flag in the 19th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 300.

Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kurt Busch claimed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole position for the Duck Commander 500 during Friday’s knockout qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway. Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet) recorded a top lap of 193.847 miles per hour (27.857 seconds) in the third and final round of knockout qualifying for his second pole in four Sprint Cup Series starts this season.

"The balance was very good. We didn't spend a lot of time in qualifying trim, so I was really happy with the balance. We struggled with a little bit of speed. Hopefully though tomorrow we'll get a really well balanced Stanley Tools Camry because that's what we worked on a lot today.

"The guys at the track, the guys at the shop, the tire guy, the engine guy, everyone chipped in. That’s what this is all about - getting that little extra. We did that with our Haas Automation Chevrolet today. Thanks to Gene (Haas). The second pole of the year feels good. Now we need to dial it in and get that long-run speed out of the car.”

“You can always be a little bit better, but the 4 and the 41 have been fast week in and week out and they’re fast here again. The guys did a great job getting us to where we’re at here and being first in class. It never helps to have extra runs on the tires, but we made the most of it.”

"Every week it really kind of overwhelms me and is very cool to see what the tracks are doing. I’m very appreciative of that and the fans getting involved. Nothing really to me is better than at Martinsville taking the lead and seeing the fans go crazy.

Chris Buescher, driver of the No. 60 Safety-Kleen Mustang in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and No. 34 Dockside Logistics Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is racing in his home state of Texas this weekend. He stopped by the infield media center to talk about that and other issues.

"I love Maxwell House. In 1990, they were the co-primary sponsor on my car. This relationship has given me the opportunity to dig back through some really cool old photos of me and the Maxwell House team and what all we accomplished together back then.

“I got to have some fun yesterday with Coby (Henslee) a part of the Axe White Label Collective it is a mentorship program. I got to go over there and drive a legends car for the first time. I think I was supposed to give tips, but that was my first time in the car so he was giving me all the tips.

"I just want to personally thank you guys so much, this is a huge opportunity. Growing up racing Saturday nights at my local track, to be able to come here to Texas and have a shot to win the race and to be able to do something like participate in a million dollars to the Children's Miracle Network – it's huge.