Full Kentucky Speedway qualifying results for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on July 13, 2018
It’s been repaved and reconfigured in recent years. Tonight, the MENCS takes to the 1.5-mile of Kentucky Speedway.
View the full Kentucky Speedway starting lineup below.
Round 1
It’s a 15 minute session in round 1. The top 24 cars will advance to round 2.
Matt DiBenedetto, Timmy Hill, JJ Yaley, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin and a few others are still in line for inspection as the green flag drops on the opening round.
Michael McDowell is the first car on the track. It’s a 29.329 for McDowell.
5 minutes remain in round 1, Jimmie Johnson sits outside the top 24 in 26th. He’s the only Hendrick car outside the top 15.
Johnson heads back out for a second attempt. His time does not improve.
1 minute remains, Matt Kenseth is on the bubble and on the track. He holds on improves his time and jumps to 23rd.
Bubba Wallace made two runs as well. His first round was intended to just scuff the tires and make them faster for the second run. The plan backfired on the #43 team, he went slower.
Denny Hamlin, Matt DiBenedetto, Jesse Little and Timmy Hill failed to turn a lap in qualifying. Little is making his Cup Series debut.
Kevin Harvick wins round 1 of qualifying.
Round 1 Results: 1. Kevin Harvick (28.745); 2. Erik Jones (28.773); 3. Austin Dillon (28.783); 4. Brad Keselowski; 5. Paul Menard; 6. Kyle Busch; 7. Daniel Suarez; 8. Clint Bowyer; 9. Ryan Newman; 10. Ryan Blaney; 11. Martin Truex Jr; 12. Aric Almirola;
Round 2
It’s a 10 minute session in round 2. The top 12 will advance to the final round and the run for the pole.
Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray are first out on the track.
7 minutes remain, eight cars have turned a lap, each car has run faster than the next, in order. Martin Truex Jr sits at the top of the board. Cars are using a bit of the apron in turn 3.
Kevin Harvick messed up turn 3 in his run. He told the crew to get ready to make another attempt. However, he sits 6th on the board. 4 minutes remain, Harvick has fallen to 9th.
1 minute remains, Harvick remains 9th. Several cars have hit the track for a second run to try and knock Daniel Suarez off the bubble position.
Martin Truex Jr wins round 2 at Kentucky Speedway.
Round 2 Results: 1. Martin Truex Jr (28.575); 2. Kyle Busch (28.662); 3. Aric Almirola (28.707); 4. Brad Keselowski; 5. Erik Jones; 6. Ryan Newman; 7. Clint Bowyer; 8. Kurt Busch; 9. Kevin Harvick; 10. Ryan Blaney; 11. Paul Menard; 12. Daniel Suarez;
Round 3
The run for the pole is next. It’s a brief 5 minute session.
45 seconds in, Brad Keselowski is the first car in the track.
1 minute remains, Kevin Harvick rebounds from round 2. He jumps to the top of the board.
Martin Truex Jr tops him! Truex will start from the pole at Kentucky Speedway.
View the full Kentucky Speedway starting lineup below.
Kentucky Speedway
Qualifying Results
July 13, 2018
Pos | Driver | Time
1. Martin Truex Jr
28.588
2. Erik Jones
28.611
3. Kevin Harvick
28.640
4. Brad Keselowski
28.664
5. Kyle Busch
28.692
6. Paul Menard
28.705
7. Ryan Blaney
28.732
8. Clint Bowyer
28.770
9. Kurt Busch
28.780
10. Ryan Newman
28.866
11. Daniel Suarez
28.877
12. Aric Almirola
28.895
13. Austin Dillon
28.851
14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
28.866
15. Alex Bowman
28.935
16. Chase Elliott
28.947
17. Matt Kenseth
28.951
18. Kyle Larson
28.979
19. Joey Logano
28.981
20. Chris Buescher
29.004
21. William Byron
29.010
22. Jamie McMurray
29.050
23. Michael McDowell
29.116
24. David Ragan
29.234
25. Bubba Wallace
29.263
26. AJ Allmendinger
29.271
27. Jimmie Johnson
29.281
28. Ty Dillon
29.533
29. Kasey Kahne
29.582
30. Ross Chastain
29.805
31. Corey LaJoie
29.936
32. JJ Yaley
30.022
33. Landon Cassill
30.150
34. BJ McLeod
30.357
35. Garrett Smithley
30.649
36. Denny Hamlin
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37. Matt DiBenedetto
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38. Jesse Little
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39. Timmy Hill
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