Ryan Blaney wins pole, Kevin Harvick second for Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas
By Nick Tylwalk
The Fords were fast again in qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with two familiar faces starting in the front row on Sunday.
First it was the general consensus that Ford drivers would be at a disadvantage in 2018. Then, after they ran pretty darn well at Daytona and dominated Atlanta, it was, “well, let’s see what happens when Las Vegas arrives.” That time is here, and Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick and other Ford drivers still look plenty fast.
Blaney was fastest in the second round of qualifying on a windy Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, then turned the trick again in the final round to win the pole for the Pennzoil 400. Harvick will start beside him in Row 1, looking to make it two victories in a row.
The pole was the third of Blaney’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, and it came despite conditions that changed even during the relatively short qualifying window, with sun turning to shade and the wind changing directions.
“I think it got faster to be honest with you,” Blaney said to the Fox Sports crew after his winning qualifying lap. “I think as the sun went down, it just gained grip.”
Paul Menard raised some eyebrows with the fastest lap in the opening round of qualifying, but he couldn’t keep up his torrid start and will start Sunday’s race 12th. In all, eight Ford drivers made the top 12 spots, including Kurt Busch (third), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (seventh), Brad Keselowski (eighth), Joey Logano (10th) and Clint Bowyer (11th).
Martin Truex Jr. was the fastest Toyota driver, and will start fourth in the Pennzoil 400. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott were the lone Chevys in the top 12, and will roll off fifth and sixth on Sunday, respectively.
Coverage of the Pennzoil 400 begins on FOX at 3:30 Eastern time on March 4.
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Pennzoil 400 qualifying results from Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Ryan Blaney
- Kevin Harvick
- Kurt Busch
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kyle Larson
- Chase Elliott
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Brad Keselowski
- Erik Jones
- Joey Logano
- Clint Bowyer
- Paul Menard
- Kyle Busch
- Jimmie Johnson
- Michael McDowell
- Austin Dillon
- William Byron
- Daniel Suarez
- Denny Hamlin
- Alex Bowman
- Kasey Kahne
- Jamie McMurray
- David Ragan
- Trevor Bayne
- Ryan Newman
- Bubba Wallace
- AJ Allmendinger
- Chris Buescher
- Aric Almirola
- Cole Custer
- Ty Dillon
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Ross Chastain
- Cole Whitt
- Gray Gaulding
- Jeffrey Earnhardt
- Joey Gase