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Kurt Busch claims Texas pole in abbreviated qualifying session

Kurt Busch remains the fastest at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Haas Automation/Monster Energy

Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Haas Automation/Monster Energy

John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images

Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Busch Light
Clint Bowyer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Mobil 1/Rush Truck Centers
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry FedEx Office
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Menards/Richmond The Water Heater Experts
Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing, Toyota Camry Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY

Busch won his second consecutive pole at the speedway when Friday’s qualifying session was cut short due to lightning in the area.

Busch’s average lap speed of 197.368 mph led the way in Round 1 and that ended up being all he needed as the second and third rounds were canceled.

The pole is Busch’s first of the season and 23rd of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career. It’s also his third at Texas and second consecutive.

Busch’s lap at 200.915 mph last fall at Texas set the record for the fastest qualifying lap in a stock car on a 1.5-mile track.

Busch has described Texas as uniquely challenging.

“(Turns) 3 and 4 are an incredible sensation. Once the car goes into the banking, it travels. The suspension collapses in the car and the car gets lower to the ground and picks up speed because you are lower to the ground and have less drag,” he said.

“It is a sensation that is hard to describe. When you have that grip level in the car, it gives you the feeling that you can just put it down to the floor and there won’t be any consequences.”

Busch’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer will start second and third, respectively. Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin complete the top-five.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson.

Round 1

Kurt Busch led a Stewart-Haas Racing sweep of the top three positions in the first 15-minute round of knockout qualifying.

Busch, who was fastest in Friday’s lone practice session, posted an average lap speed of 197.368 mph. He was followed by teammates Harvick (197.116 mph) and Bowyer (196.829 mph).

Blaney ended up fourth-fastest and Hamlin completed the top-five.

Rounding out the Top 10: Truex, Logano, Kyle Busch, Johnson and Larson.

Among those who failed to advance to Round 2 included Ryan Newman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kasey Kahne and rookie William Byron.

Byron had changed engines during Friday’s practice session but it didn’t appear to help his speed much as he ended up 33rd-fastest. Byron will have to start Sunday’s race from the rear of the field.

On the warm-up lap on his first qualifying attempt, Chris Buescher slapped the wall off Turn 2 and pulled off the track with damage to his No. 37 Chevrolet.

NASCAR approved Buscher’s team to change two of his tires because of damage from the incident. He eventually was able to complete a qualifying attempt and ended up 18th-fastest in the first round.

Shortly after the conclusion of the first round, NASCAR put qualifying on hold was there were reports of lightning in the area of the speedway.

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