NASCAR Cup Series

The fastest Ford in final Cup Series practice Saturday was the No. 2 Mustang of Brad Keselowski. With Keselowski headed off to handle TV duties for today’s Xfinity Series race, crew chief Paul Wolfe met with media members after happy hour to discuss the weekend.

In a wild turn of events (or lack thereof), Austin Dillon will lead the field to the green in Sunday’s Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday.

Austin Dillon powered his No. 3 DOW Coatings Camaro ZL1 to the pole position for Sunday’s Auto Club 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Auto Club Speedway. Dillon recorded the fastest lap in the knockout qualifying session in what became a sprint to the end in each of the three rounds in the format. Drivers waited to take to the track in drafting groups — and resulted in no driver reaching the start-finish line in time for a third-round qualifying lap. The top positions were then set by second-round speeds.

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW COATINGS CAMARO ZL1 = Pole Winner “It was good. We had a good car off the trailer. They made some good adjustments going into qualifying. And we kept the speed that we needed. It came down to Round 2 and putting the placement right. Andy Houston (spotter) did a great job."

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Qualifying Position: 4th - Any solution to fix this qualifying format?“They fixed it in trucks, right? Made single car qualifying.”

CLINT BOWYER, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Haas Automation Ford Mustang -- Qualified 9th “You know, I have seen it in other sports but never seen it in ours. We just got booed and it is disappointing. It is disappointing for everybody involved."

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to the media at Auto Club Speedway:

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE PET INSURANCE CAMARO ZL1 met with media and discussed the new pit road speed rules for qualifying, the affect of windy weather for practice, looking ahead to Martinsville, and more. Session Highlights:

KEVIN HARVICK, No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford Mustang -- WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PIT ROAD RULES IN QUALIFYING? “Honestly I don't know why we haven’t had them until now. Obviously with the incident we had wherever we were, Atlanta, it became aware. I think it is something that we probably should have had in place from the beginning. We have had pit road speeds, they just haven’t been enforced like they will be now. I think it is a good thing. You have different agendas and different guys. We don't need anybody hurt.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang -- WHAT ARE YOU THINKING SO FAR THIS WEEKEND? “We struggled a little bit in practice, mainly getting a handle on the car. The wind is tough for everybody in three and four. I think the wind seems to be kind of shifting a little bit. That is something that my spotter will keep me informed on, especially when we are rolling off pit road for qualifying. For us, I think it is just all about timing. The car lengths from the car in front of you, to time that draft just right. The first run I got way too close but at Vegas and Atlanta I didn’t get close enough. It is all about timing that right.”