[ad_1]
MARTINSVILLE, Go. – Kyle Busch's road to the championship round was made a bit easier when he won the pole at Martinsville Speedway.
Busch turned a lap at 96.254 miles per hour on the Virginia paperclip to earn the top spot in Sunday's race, the first of the NASCAR's third round of playoffs. Eight drivers remain eligible for the title, but only will make the final shootout.
A win in any of the three races in this round of the playoffs earns a driver an automatic berth.
Busch won Martinsville last year to earn a spot at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and he's been so good as a member of NASCAR's so-called '' Big 3 '' that's advancing to the final is almost a given. He said Saturday after qualifying the pressure has been considerably reduced.
'' Any time you're under the pressure of having a good time, you're going to have a good time, '' Busch said. '' The pressure that sets in over these next two weeks if you're behind the cutoff line. . . that can certainly wear on your during the week. You want to have some things to do to get your mind off of it. This is what we live, eat, breath, sleep, everything. It's always on our mind.
The official lineup is not set until after Sunday morning's inspection, and drivers whose cars fail inspection will start from the rear. Pit selection will be made and will be inspected, and the following will be taken into consideration.
'' Obviously starting position is important, but the opportunity is really to have that pit box, '' Busch said. '' That No. 1 pit box will hopefully do good and we can have a good day, run up front of the day, and finish there. ''
Clint Bowyer qualified second in a Ford from Stewart-Haas Racing, which has all four of its drivers in the field of eight. SHR teammate Aric Almirola qualified fifth, Kurt Busch was seventh, and Kevin Harvick 13th.
Source link
