NASCAR Cup Series

Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson captured the 50th pole position for the Chevrolet SS race car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) with a quick lap of 28.430 seconds/133.971 mph in his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy SS. It marked Johnson’s 35th career pole in 526 races and his first of the 2016 season thus far.

"The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading..." and I need to unload the question of whether you really want to see Jeff Gordon in a Sprint Cup car next week.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Starting Position: 2nd - Did you have anything for the pole-winning lap that Jimmie Johnson posted? “No, I thought we were kind of close to that in the second round. Overall, I messed up a couple times on that lap that we had and a little bit off of four and definitely checked up and had to get out of the gas just to save the car and come down and have a good lap."

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion – Qualified 9th – POST QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE - YOU COME INTO THIS RACE WITH A LOT OF MOMENTUM. “It sure has been a good ride the last two weeks and that is all you can ask for as a driver, to be up front and have a chance to win races. We have had that and been able to capitalize on it. I feel really good about that."

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – POLE WINNER - THAT WAS AM IMPRESSIVE LAP DID YOU THINK YOUR CAR HAD THAT IN IT? “I knew the car was good. We had something really weird go on in our mock run in practice for qualifying. It had us kind of confused. We went back to kind of square one and where we unloaded."

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion – Qualified 6th “We just got a little bit snug the last lap in the last round there. I am not sure we could have gone as fast as the 48 did anyway but I feel like we gave up a least a half a tenth down in one and two."

"We’re just hoping for a good weekend. We’ve been getting closer and closer in the points and getting in position to make the Chase, so we’ve just got to keep working hard and be consistent and not have any bad races and hopefully can get there.”

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion, returns home to the Northeast and New Hampshire Motor Speedway in search of the third straight Cup series win for Ford and Team Penske. Logano spoke about the team’s recent success and more with media members following opening practice Friday afternoon.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What is it about New Hampshire Motor Speedway that produces exciting finishes here for you? “This race track for us has been pretty good over the years, especially the last few years, and finally figured out our short track program and getting that going at Joe Gibbs Racing."

RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 WHELEN CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media and discussed why New Hampshire Motor Speedway is one of his best tracks, his decision to compete in two Whelen Modified races this weekend, his thoughts on Dale Earnhardt, Jr. not competing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and many other topics. Full Transcript: