By Mike Cranston
Associated Press
CONCORD ó Moments after Brad Keselowski drove the fastest car at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday night, the surging driver couldnít resist poking fun at the driver caught going too fast two days earlier.
Keselowskiís lap of 192.089 mph gave him the pole for Sundayís Coca-Cola 600. He was then asked whatís been the difference in the past two Sprint Cup points races ó finishes of third and 13th ó after a miserable start to the season.
ěMy crew chief, Paul Wolfe, he lives off of Perth Road,î Keselowski said. ěSo maybe he found some secrets there. Thereís a lot of speed on that road, I hear.î
Perth Road in nearby Troutman was where a police officer said he clocked Kyle Busch driving 128 mph in a 45 mph zone on Tuesday. On this day, an apologetic Busch had only the 21st fastest time and Keselowski continued a satisfying turnaround following bad performances and criticism from teammate Kurt Busch.
ěEverything is motivation for me and that was no exception,î Keselowski said.
AJ Allmendinger (191.693 mph) will join Keselowski on the front row for NASCARís longest race. Carl Edwards, who won last weekís All-Star race then wrecked his car in a celebration mishap in the grass, qualified third in his new car and took his share of ribbing, too.
ěIf you win, will you spin out through the grass again?î Allmendinger asked Edwards.
ěNo!î replied Edwards.
Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top six.
Keselowski, whose lone Sprint Cup victory came at Talladega in 2009, enters the 400-lap race 24th in the points standings with just one top-10 finish this year. But Keselowski said the departure this month of Penske Racing technical director Tom German ěhas opened doors that were never opened beforeî for his No. 2 Dodge team.
ěEvery week we just keep picking away a little here, a little bit there,î Keselowski said. ěWeíre starting to get more people to believe in us.î