Pole Report: Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway

With only two Sprint Cup Series races in the books at Kentucky Speedway, the driver and team notebooks are thin. Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski have visited victory lane and this in the only track on the circuit where Jeff Gordon is yet to win. Who will celebrate Saturday night?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted a new track record on route to his first pole of the season and first at Kentucky Speedway. Earnhardt’s speed of 183.636 mph beat out Carl Edwards for the top starting spot.

Coverage of the Quaker State 400 will begin Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on TNT with the green flag flying at 7:45 p.m.

Here’s the full starting grid:

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. Carl Edwards
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Kyle Busch
5. Marcos Ambrose
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Ryan Newman
8. Brad Keselowski
9. Brian Vickers
10. Juan Pablo Montoya
11. Joey Logano
12. Jeff Gordon
13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
14. Jeff Burton
15. Clint Bowyer
16. Matt Kenseth
17. AJ Allmendinger
18. Aric Almirolla
19. Martin Truex Jr.
20. Greg Biffle
21. Kasey Kahne
22. Kevin Harvick
23. Jamie McMurray
24. Paul Menard
25. Tony Stewart
26. Austin Dillon
27. Kurt Busch
28. David Stremme
29. Danica Patrick
30. Landon Cassill
31. Casey Mears
32. Dave Blaney
33. Michael McDowell
34. David Gilliland
35. JJ Yeley
36. David Reutimann
37. Josh Wise
38. David Ragan
39. Mike Bliss
40. Travis Kvapil
41. Joe Nemechek
42. Scott Riggs
43. Ken Schrader

Qualifying Notes:
For the first time since 1992, Bobby Labonte won’t be competing in Sprint Cup Series competition. His streak of consecutive starts ends at 704. The streak began at the 1993 Daytona 500 and is third on the the all-time list and second among active drivers. Jeff Gordon leads active drivers with 705. AJ Allmendinger is behind the wheel of the No. 47.