Brad Keselowski wins first Las Vegas pole
By Nick Tylwalk
It’s safe to say that the No. 2 is fast this season, winning in Atlanta and starting up front in Las Vegas.
Have you driven a Ford lately? That seems to be the common theme to most of what’s happened in the young 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, and Brad Keselowski is right in the middle of it.
Keselowski already has a victory thanks to his triumph last week in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta, and his Team Penske Ford was fastest in qualifying in Las Vegas. His final round speed of 193.680 mph earned him his Las Vegas pole in nine attempts.
Martin Truex Jr. put his Toyota in the front row as well with a qualifying speed of 193.458 mph. Ryan Blaney, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five for Sunday’s race.
The 2017 Cup Series rookie class has had a difficult time so far, but Vegas qualifying offered a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough this weekend. Erik Jones will start eighth in his No. 78 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength Toyota, while Daniel Suarez just missed out on a top-10 starting spot and will line up on the inside of Row 6.
Next: Full NASCAR TV schedule for Las Vegas
Here are the full qualifying results from Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
- Brad Keselowski
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Ryan Blaney
- Matt Kenseth
- Kyle Larson
- Joey Logano
- Kasey Kahne
- Erik Jones
- Kyle Busch
- Jamie McMurray
- Daniel Suarez
- Chase Elliott
- Clint Bowyer
- Paul Menard
- Denny Hamlin
- Jimmie Johnson
- Kurt Busch
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Kevin Harvick
- Trevor Bayne
- Ryan Newman
- Austin Dillon
- A.J. Allmendinger
- Ty Dillon
- Chris Buescher
- Michael McDowell
- Landon Cassill
- Danica Patrick
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Aric Almirola
- Matt DiBenedetto
- David Ragan
- Cole Whitt
- Corey Lajoie
- Gray Gaulding
- Jeffrey Earnhardt
- Reed Sorensen
- Derrike Cope
- Timmy Hill