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.
Michael Waltrip Racing and Maxwell House today announced a partnership which names the iconic coffee maker as primary racing sponsor for five Sprint Cup races during the 2015 season and the prestigious DAYTONA 500® in February 2016.
The two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion from Johnston, Iowa, led a race-high 21 of 86 laps and outdueled Ty Majeski, Kaden Honeycutt and a pack of eight competitors on the final lap to become the 130th competitor to win in the Truck Series division.
Kaden Honeycutt (fifth) earned the most stage points and delivered another top-five finish in the Chase to lead Toyota in Friday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
The 2024 Truck Series champion from Seymour, Wisconsin, posted a pole-winning lap at 177.389 mph in 53.983 seconds for his third Truck pole of 2026, first at Talladega and the 14th of his career.
Rackley W.A.R. will end its NASCAR Truck Series program at the conclusion of this weekend's Chase event at Talladega Superspeedway and following a six-year campaign.
TRICON Garage partner and general manager Kevin Ray, along with 2027 drivers Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton, were made available to the media on Friday prior to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race from Talladega Superspeedway.
