New Hampshire Motor Speedway starting lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series
Next up, the NASCAR Cup Series will set the grid for New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It’s MENCS qualifying in Loudon, NH.
View the full NHMS starting lineup below.
2018 NHMS: Menu
TV | Prac 1 | Qual | Prac 2 | Race
Round 1
It’s a 15 minute opening round session. The top 24 will advance.
All cars have made it through the NASCAR inspection tent as the green flag drops on the session.
9 minutes remain, Michael McDowell sets at the top of the board. Many of the heavy hitters are sitting in the pit area. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series were the last cars on the track. Teams are waiting for the track to get cleaned up a bit.
Both of these classes are using the same tire this weekend. The MENCS crew chiefs might not be aware of that.
7 minutes remain, there’s a large line of cars at the edge of the pit lane.
6 minutes remain, only 5 cars have turned a lap. 14 cars sit parked at the edge of the pit lane.
4 minutes remain, Kyle Busch hits the track. He won the opening round of practice early this afternoon. Kyle Busch to P1 of the 16 cars to turn a lap.
Kyle Busch wins round 1!
Round 1 Results: 1. Kyle Busch (28.613); 2. Alex Bowman (28.623); 3. William Byron (28.674); 4. Kurt Busch; 5. Martin Truex Jr; 6. Daniel Suarez; 7. Aric Almirola; 8. Kevin Harvick; 9. Denny Hamlin; 10. Ryan Blaney; 11. Erik Jones; 12. Chase Elliott;
Round 2
It’s a brief 10 minute session. This will set the field for positions 13-24.
Kyle Larson wiggled on the end of his first lap in this session. He runs a 2nd lap but his time was hurt by the wiggle on lap 1. He runs a 3rd lap, he’s 4th of 5 cars.
5 minutes remain, Denny Hamlin to the top of the board. He’s the defending race winner. Suarez knocks him off the top spot quickly.
3 minutes remain, Harvick, Busch and Truex hit the track at the same time. Kyle Busch jumps to the top.
2 minutes remain, Harvick sits on the bubble. Brad Keselowski is 13th. 45 seconds to go, Keselowski heads to the track for a second run. Keselowski to 11th! Harvick and Larson are knocked out in round 2.
Kyle Busch wins round 1 and now round 2 in New Hampshire qualifying.
Round 2 Results: 1. Kyle Busch (28.497); 2. Daniel Suarez (28.521); 3. Martin Truex Jr (28.543); 4. Erik Jones; 5. Denny Hamlin; 6. Kurt Busch; 7. Ryan Blaney; 8. Chase Elliott; 9. William Byron; 10. Alex Bowman; 11. Brad Keselowski; 12. Paul Menard;
Round 3
It’s a 5 minute run for the pole position.
Kurt Busch is the first car on the track. He only did 1 lap. Most cars run quicker on lap 2.
2 minutes remain, Kyle Busch hits the track. 2nd! He runs another lap but can’t improve.
Kurt Busch will start from the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway! It’s his first pole at this track. Kurt was the only Stewart-Haas Racing driver to make it into the final round at NHMS.
View the full Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup from New Hampshire Motor Speedway below.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Starting Lineup
Pos | Driver | Time
1. Kurt Busch
28.511
2. Martin Truex Jr
28.530
3. Kyle Busch
28.545
4. Denny Hamlin
28.560
5. Ryan Blaney
28.698
6. Brad Keselowski
28.699
7. Erik Jones
28.708
8. Alex Bowman
28.720
9. Daniel Suarez
28.728
10. Chase Elliott
28.754
11. William Byron
28.771
12. Paul Menard
28.813
13. Aric Almirola
28.727
14. Kevin Harvick
28.734
15. Clint Bowyer
28.767
16. AJ Allmendinger
28.772
17. Austin Dillon
28.798
18. Ryan Newman
28.811
19. Joey Logano
28.834
20. Kyle Larson
28.846
21. Jimmie Johnson
28.871
22. Jamie McMurray
28.912
23. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
28.976
24. Chris Buescher
29.022
25. Ty Dillon
29.020
26. Kasey Kahne
29.085
27. Bubba Wallace
29.106
28. Matt DiBenedetto
29.123
29. Michael McDowell
29.171
30. David Ragan
29.179
31. Matt Kenseth
29.190
32. Ross Chastain
29.477
33. Corey LaJoie
29.491
34. Landon Cassill
29.495
35. Kyle Weatherman
29.855
36. BJ McLeod
29.860
37. Blake Jones
30.579