Lightning brought an early end to qualifying in Texas, meaning the team that has had the hottest start to the 2018 season will claim the first three starting spots for Sunday.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams have had a hard time keeping up with the Stewart-Haas Racing cars this year, so it’s almost unfair to only give everyone else one crack at them. That’s exactly what happened during O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Busch Pole Qualifying, as lightning prevented any more than one round of fast laps.
Kurt Busch was the man who went the fastest in Round 1, so he’ll get to start from the pole on Sunday. Teammate Kevin Harvick will join him in Row 1, while Clint Bowyer, winner at Martinsville two weeks ago, starts third. The fourth SHR car couldn’t quite make it a sweep, but Aric Almirola will start a respectable 12th. Ryan Blaney will roll off fourth to ensure the first two rows are all Fords.
Denny Hamlin was the fastest Toyota in the shortened qualifying session and will start fifth, with defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. starting ride on his outside in Row 3. Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson were the two fastest Chevys and will start ninth and 10th, respectively.
A number of notable names didn’t fare as well, as Erik Jones will start 21st and Ryan Newman found himself in 25th. Rookie William Byron will want to forget this qualifying session as he has work to do starting 33rd.
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Coverage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on FS1 on Sunday, with the green flag from Texas Motor Speedway expected around 2:10 p.m.
2018 O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 qualifying results from Texas Motor Speedway
- Kurt Busch
- Kevin Harvick
- Clint Bowyer
- Ryan Blaney
- Denny Hamlin
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Joey Logano
- Kyle Busch
- Jimmie Johnson
- Kyle Larson
- Brad Keselowski
- Aric Almirola
- Trevor Bayne
- Daniel Suarez
- Bubba Wallace
- Alex Bowman
- Austin Dillon
- Chris Buescher
- Paul Menard
- Chase Elliott
- Erik Jones
- AJ Allmendinger
- Ty Dillon
- Jamie McMurray
- Ryan Newman
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Michael McDowell
- Kasey Kahne
- David Ragan
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Ross Chastain
- Gray Gaulding
- William Byron
- Cole Whitt
- Landon Cassill
- Harrison Rhodes
- Reed Sorensen