Bristol Motor Speedway Starting Lineup for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event
Before they race, they must qualify. That’s what’s on tap for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competitors today.
View the full Bristol NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup below.
Three rounds of knockout qualifying will set the grid for tomorrow night event. The track has been confusing these drivers all day. A few rain storms rolling in and out haven’t helped the cause. 7-time supercross champion, Ryan Dungey watches from the pit lane.
Round 1
Kurt Busch is the first car on track. He’s sets a base time at 16.762. That’s basically a tire scrubbing time, well off pace. The rest of the field isn’t in any hurry to touch the racing surface.
10 minutes remain, only 4 cars have turned a lap time. 8 minutes to go now, Kyle Larson on track and to the top of the board. The flood gates have opened.
5 minutes left, Kyle Busch to the top. Can he take 3 poles in a row? He’s already claimed the NCWTS and NXS pole. He turned a 14.769.
3 minutes left, Dale Earnhardt Jr is on the bubble. This could be qualifying for his final Bristol race. Certainly his last as a full time driver. He’s bumped. Kurt Busch and Harvick are outside the top 24 as well.
Dale Jr is back on track, his time doesn’t improve. In practice, he was just trying “not to pull out the backup.” Wrecking loose in the final practice session. Those struggles will continue.
Kurt Busch to 25th! He continues rolling. On his 11th lap, he’s up to 23rd. Bumped back to 24th. 10 seconds remain, Kurt Busch is bumped again back to 25th.
Round 1 Bristol Qualifying Results: 1. Kyle Busch (14.769); 2. Denny Hamlin; 3. Chase Elliott; 4. Jamie McMurray; 5. Martin Truex Jr; 6. Erik Jones; 7. Matt Kenseth; 8. Kasey Kahne; 9. Ryan Blaney; 10. Daniel Suarez; 11. Brad Keselowski; 12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Round 2
3 minutes in, Kyle Larson is the first car on track. He runs high in 3-4 on his warm up lap. 15.025 for Larson. Short lived, Matt Kenseth to the top.
Kyle Busch on track. He’s in the green through 1-2. Loose at the entry to 3, he drifts way up the banking. Ky Busch coasts through 1-2 and gasses it to try again. 8th fastest, he’ll need to run another lap.
2 minutes to go, Keselowski is on the cut line, he’s bumped. Buescher is now on the hot seat, bumped. Rocketman, Ryan Newman takes his place, he’s bumped. Now Truex is on the bubble, 1 minute remains.
Kyle Busch is back on track. Tracking in the green through 1-2. Way up the banking in 3-4! He lost it, again. Kyle Busch will be knocked out of round 2. 3-4 is a tighter radius than 1-2. He can’t get it to rotate without the back end jumping out from under him.
At the same time, Denny Hamlin snuck out on track to take the top spot from Matt Kenseth.
Round 2 Bristol Qualifying Results: 1. Denny Hamlin (14.917); 2. Matt Kenseth; 3. Erik Jones; 4. Joey Logano; 5. Daniel Suarez; 6. Chase Elliott; 7. Ryan Newman; 8. Clint Bowyer; 9. Kyle Larson; 10. Jamie McMurray; 11. Kasey Kahne; 12. Martin Truex Jr;
Round 3
The track is now fully in the shade. This will drastically change handling.
Matt Kesneth is the first car on track. 15.933 is the time. He improves on the 2nd lap, 15.042. He shuts it down. Kenseth radio, “We’ll see.”
Kasey Kahne to the top! He turned a 15.005. Larson knocks him off, first car in the 14’s with a 14.984. Erik Jones to the top 14.981.
The field is set. Erik Jones will start from the pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway! That’s his first career pole and it comes in Bristol, TN.
View the full 2017. Bristol starting lineup below.
500 laps around Bristol Motor Speedway. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race will take place tomorrow night at 7:30.
Related: Bristol TV Schedule – August 2017
Author: Shane Walters
Bristol Starting Lineup
NASCAR Cup Series
August 2017
1. Erik Jones
2. Kyle Larson
3. Kasey Kahne
4. Chase Elliott
5. Matt Kenseth
6. Martin Truex Jr
7. Denny Hamlin
8. Joey Logano
9. Clint Bowyer
10. Ryan Blaney
11. Jamie McMurray
12. Daniel Suarez
13. Ryan Newman
14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
15. Chris Buescher
16. Austin Dillon
17. Bad Keselowski
18. Kyle Busch
19. David Ragan
20. Trevor Bayne
21. Jimmie Johnson
22. Ty Dillon
23. AJ Allmendinger
24. Danica Patrick
25. Kurt Busch
26. Michael McDowell
27. Paul Menard
28. Aric Almirola
29. Kevin Harvick
30. JJ Yaley
31. Dale Earnhardt Jr
32. Cole Whitt
33. Landon Cassill
34. Matt DiBendetto
35. Corey LaJoie
36. BJ McLeod
37. Gray Gaulding
38. Jeffrey Earnhardt
39. Reed Sorenson
40. Joey Gase
41. Timmy Hill
Links
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NASCAR
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Shane Walters
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