Keselowski grabs pole for Chase-cutoff race at Richmond

Richmond, VA (SportsNetwork.com) – Brad Keselowski claimed his fourth pole in the Sprint Cup Series this season after winning Friday’s knockout-style qualifying for the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

Keselowski, the driver of the No. 2 Ford for Team Penske, will start first in Saturday night’s 400-lap event after turning a lap at 126.618 mph during the second and final round in qualifying. This is the 26th and final race of the regular season in the Sprint Cup Series. The Chase for the Sprint Cup championship begins next week at Chicagoland Speedway.

This was Keselowski’s first pole in 11 Sprint Cup races at Richmond and his seventh career pole in the series. His previous best start at this three- quarter-mile track was second, which occurred in April. He finished fourth in that race.

“I don’t know how many races I have run here at Richmond on the Cup level, but this is by far the best car I’ve had, and I feel we have a really strong shot of winning this weekend,” Keselowski said. “I am very excited about that. Everyone says they are excited, but when you sit on the pole and have a fast practice, you have real reason to be excited.”

Jeff Gordon, the current points leader, will start alongside Keselowski on the front row with a qualifying lap at 126.039 mph.

“I’m happy we are on the front row, but at the same time, I see how far we’re behind that No. 2 car [Keselowski], Gordon said. “I feel like we have a race car that can compete with those guys. We’ll just go out there and try to make it happen tomorrow night.”

Jimmie Johnson, the six-time and defending series champion and Gordon’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, qualified third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano, who won this year’s spring race here.

Clint Bowyer will start sixth in his attempt to qualify for the Chase. Bowyer enters this race 23 points behind Greg Biffle for the 16th and final spot on the Chase grid.

“I really do feel like we’re a top-five car for sure, and anytime you’re a top-five car with a little bit of adjusting, some help, some luck, whatever the case, you can win these races. I’m fairly optimistic. This is a fun racetrack and a good race track for me, and we’re going to hopefully have a good night.”

Biffle qualified 17th.

Finishing seventh through 12th in the final qualifying round were: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., rookie Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, who is the defending race winner, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman. Danica Patrick will start 13th.

Stenhouse, Larson, Newman and Patrick are trying to secure a spot in the Chase as well.

Other Chase contenders and their starting positions include: Paul Menard (14th), Jamie McMurray (15th), Brian Vickers (18th), Tony Stewart (19th), Casey Mears (22nd), Justin Allgaier (27th), Austin Dillon (28th), Martin Truex Jr. (29th), David Gilliland (30th), Marcos Ambrose (33rd), Cole Whitt (35th) and David Ragan (42nd).

Clay Rogers was the only driver who failed to qualify for the race.

Categorized in: NASCAR