NASCAR starting lineup for July 13, 2019 following qualifying at Kentucky Speedway
Next up, it’s NASCAR qualifying at Kentucky Speedway. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will set the starting grid for Saturday night’s Quaker State 400.
View the full Kentucky starting lineup below.
2019 Kentucky Menu: MENCS
TV | Prac 1 | Prac 2 | Qual | Averages | Race
The Sparta, KY asphalt oval track is 1.5-miles in distance. The tiny town with a population of just over 300 is set for the premier series of stock car racing.
This is an impound race. Following this run for the pole position, cars will be secured by NASCAR. Post-qualifying inspection will double as pre-race inspection as this is an enhanced weekend with only two days of MENCS competition.
PJ1 has been installed heavily on the speedway. Lanes 2 and 3 are heavy with a grip strip to give team an option beyond the bottom lane.
In turn one, drivers were nearly full throttle in the corner. With qualifying trim, a few might be able to hold it wide open on that end of the track.
Kentucky Qualifying
Report
Laps: 1
The first 16 qualifiers make up group A. These cars were in the bottom 20 of qualifying last week. Their order is set by a random draw.
The final 20 cars to qualify are the top 20 qualifiers from last week. Their order is also set by a random draw.
Quin Houff attempts to run the apron through the tri-oval. The track has been repaved, it’s smooth. But, that specific area isn’t and Houff launches across the start finish line.
Daniel Hemric is quickest so far as group A has concluded.
Kentucky Speedway Qualifying – Group A: 1. Daniel Hemric (29.526); 2. Austin Dillon (29.526); 3. Austin Dillon (29.580); 4. Michael McDowell (29.752); 5. Matt DiBenedetto (29.914); 6. David Ragan (29.948); 7. Chris Buescher (29.954); 8. Ty Dillon (29.985); 9. Bubba Wallace (30.008); 10. Corey LaJoie (30.014);
Group B
Brad Keselowski turned right directly after leaving the pit lane. He moves right to the race track ahead of turn one, avoiding the apron. He was trying to make his get up to speed lap as quick as possible. It’s worked so far, Keselowski jumps to the top by a tenth.
Kyle Larson was within a tenth of the pole sitting time heading into turn three. However, he got loose in the center of the corner and was forced to lift. Drivers were fighting that in turns 3-4 during both practice sessions earlier today.
William Byron is in the throttle early in turn three. He runs is right toward the wall. He comes close but no contact with the wall. That will hurt his time.
Aric Almirola is on the track. He runs full throttle through turn 1. No brake in turn three with a tiny blip of the throttle and he jumps to the top of the board. Stewart-Haas Racing had all four cars running quick in practice.
Daniel Suarez is the final car to qualify. He jumps to the top of the board by more than a tenth. Stewart-Haas Racing has locked out the front row.
Daniel Suarez will start of the pole position at Kentucky Speedway! That’s his 2nd career pole.
View the full Kentucky Speedway qualifying results below.
Kentucky Starting Lineup
NASCAR Cup Series
July 13, 2019
Pos | Driver | Time
1. Daniel Suarez
29.254
2. Aric Almirola
29.380
3. Brad Keselowski
29.437
4. Kurt Busch
29.451
5. Kevin Harvick
29.458
6. Daniel Hemric
29.526
7. Clint Bowyer
29.535
8. Martin Truex Jr
29.575
9. Austin Dillon
29.580
10. Kyle Busch
29.601
11. Joey Logano
29.620
12. William Byron
29.625
13. Jimmie Johnson
29.646
14. Paul Menard
29.667
15. Ryan Blaney
29.671
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
29.686
17. Michael McDowell
29.752
18. Denny Hamlin
29.763
19. Kyle Larson
29.776
20. Chase Elliott
29.779
21. Erik Jones
29.821
22. Alex Bowman
29.874
23. Ryan Newman
29.887
24. Matt DiBenedetto
29.914
25. David Ragan
29.948
26. Chris Buescher
29.954
27. Ty Dillon
29.985
28. Bubba Wallace
30.008
29. Corey LaJoie
30.014
30. Ryan Preece
30.023
31. Matt Tifft
30.172
32. Bayley Currey
30.387
33. Ross Chastain
30.421
34. Landon Cassill
30.533
35. BJ McLeod
30.964
36. Quin Houff
31.031
