Associated Press
LAS VEGAS ó Matt Kenseth was all too aware of his lousy qualifying record, and even with a fast car, he figured heíd screw up his Friday lap around Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
He didnít, though, instead turning a flawless lap at 188.884 mph to set a track record. It was the fifth pole of Kensethís career, and first since Darlington in 2009.
ěFive in 12 years? Thatís a little better than I thought,î he deadpanned. ěQualifying is not my strong suit but I knew we had a really fast car. Honestly this is the most nervous I have been before qualifying in probably five years because I knew we had a shot at the pole. I didnít want to mess up a fast car.î
Kenseth, who broke Kurt Buschís year-old qualifying record of 188.719, will attempt to break his 72-race winless streak in Sundayís race. His last victory was in 2009 at California.
Carl Edwards, Kensethís teammate at Roush Fenway Racing, qualified second and was followed by Marcos Ambrose and Greg Biffle, another Roush driver, as Fords swept the top four spots. All four cars are powered by Roush engines.
Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Joey Logano qualified fifth and sixth. Busch, the current points leader, was briefly on the pole and trying to make sure Kurt or Kyle Busch won the top starting spot for the fourth consecutive year.
Instead, Ambrose knocked Busch down a spot with a quick lap that lifted the Australianís spirits after a disappointing start to his first season with Richard Petty Motorsports.
ěMy team has really supported me through a slow start. I felt some pressure coming in here and I really wanted to step up,î he said.
Ambrose was still doing interviews about his lap when Edwards bettered his speed. Edwards then brushed his car against the back of Ambroseís legs when he came off the track, a grazing the drivers were laughing about after.
AJ Allmendinger, Ambroseís teammate, qualified seventh and was followed by Ryan Newman in a Chevrolet, Martin Truex Jr. in a Toyota and Mark Martin in a Chevrolet.
David Ragan, whose Ford was one of the fastest cars during practice, spun on his qualifying lap and failed to post a time. He will start Sundayís race from the 42nd position.
Kurt Busch, last yearís pole winner, was the highest qualifying Dodge. He finished at 22nd.
Brian Keselowski failed to qualify for the 43-car field.