Atlanta Motor Speedway qualifying results from February 23, 2018
Today, they set the field for Sunday’s main event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying.
View the Atlanta Motor Speedway starting lineup below.
Atlanta Menu: MENCS
TV | Prac 1 | Qual | Prac 2 | Race
Round 1
The top 24 advance to round two.
Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr have yet to make it through pre-qualifying inspection. Johnson and the Hendrick Motorsports team are on their 3rd attempt through the new OSS machine.
Brad Keselowski to the top of the board.
5 minutes remain in round 1, Jimmie Johnson is on track. Elliott is out and Blaney is on the bubble. Blaney is bumped. Buescher bumps Hamlin. Two minutes remain, Hamlin re-enters the track, he was 6th quickest on opening round practice. Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon is on the bubble.
1 minutes left, Chase Elliott pulled out to run a lap, he bailed. Austin Dillon sits on pit road. Hamlin bumps his way into round 2 and bumps Dillon.
“I think I’m ready for a nap, it’s been a long week,” Austin Dillon tells FS1.
Martin Truex Jr did not make it out of qualifying in time to make a lap. The time did not submit the car for a 4th attempt through the OSS.
Round 1 Results: 1. Brad Keselowski (29.737); 2. Kevin Harvick (29.869); 3. Clint Bowyer (29.988); 4. Kyle Larson; 5. Jamie McMurray; 6. Daniel Suarez; 7. William Byron; 8. Ryan Newman; 9. Joey Logano; 10. Kurt Busch; 11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr; 12. Kyle Busch;
Round 2
The top 12 advance to round three.
Denny Hamlin is the only car to transfer into round 2 with more than a single run on his tires. Tires are very important on this worn out surface.
Harvick leads at the mid-way point in round 2 of knockout qualifying. Johnson is sliding all over the 3rd lane in turns 1-2 on his lap, 19th quick.
1 minute to go, Hamlin, Wallace and Buescher all hit the track at the last second. Wallace is 18th. Hamlin makes it! Barely, he’s 12th quickest.
Round 2 Results: 1. Kevin harvick (30.043); 2. Daniel Suarez (30.084); 3. Kyle Larson (30.101); 4. Brad Keselowski; 5. Kurt Busch; 6. Kyle Busch; 7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr; 8. Ryan Newman; 9. Aric Almirola; 10. Clint Bowyer; 11. Erik Jones; 12. Denny Hamlin;
Round 3
A five minute session, the race for the pole. Kevin Harvick hits the track first, he’s done that in all three sessions.
“Too tight into turn 1,” Harvick radio. Despite that, he leads with 3 minutes remaining. 4 cars have turned a lap so far.
2 minutes remain, the Rocketman Ryan Newman goes to the top.
30 seconds to go, Kyle Busch to the top! He’ll start from the pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Denny Hamlin did not turn a lap in round 3. Aric Almirola started a lap then bailed on his attempt.
View the full Atlanta Motor Speedway qualifying results below.
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Starting Lineup
Pos | Driver | Time
1. Kyle Busch
30.024
2. Ryan Newman
30.062
3. Kevin Harvick
30.067
4. Daniel Suarez
30.093
5. Brad Keselowski
30.154
6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
30.176
7. Kurt Busch
30.215
8. Kyle Larson
30.221
9. Clint Bowyer
30.414
10. Erik Jones
30.621
11. Aric Almirola
—
12. Denny Hamlin
—
13. Jamie McMurray
30.324
14. Kasey Kahne
30.377
15. Paul Menard
30.384
16. Joey Logano
30.440
17. Michael McDowell
30.469
18. Alex Bowman
30.523
19. Darrell Wallace Jr
30.551
20. Trevor Bayne
30.578
21. AJ Allmendinger
30.588
22. Jimmie Johnson
30.590
23. William Byron
30.663
24. Chris Buescher
—
25. Austin Dillon
30.503
26. Ryan Blaney
30.537
27. Chase Elliott
30.616
28. Ty Dillon
30.750
29. David Ragan
30.780
30. Matt DiBenedetto
30.987
31. Gray Gaulding Jr
—
32. Cole Whitt
31.314
33. Jeffrey Earnhardt
31.671
34. Ross Chastain
31.796
35. Martin Truex Jr
Did not attempt
