Kevin Harvick Gets Pole at Kentucky After Rain Washes Out Qualifying

July 8, 2016

Rick Nyman,

SPARTA, Ky. (AP) – Storms washed out qualifying at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, putting Kevin Harvick on the pole for Saturday night’s Sprint Cup Series race based on owner points.

Severe weather moved over the track near midday and shortened practice to around 30 minutes. The hope was for weather to hold off for track drying and allow practice session to be concluded by late afternoon.

In the meantime, Harvick will lead the field to green in the No. 4 Chevy alongside Brad Keselowski in the No. 2 Ford.

The rest of the top 10: Kurt Busch (Chevy); Joey Logano (Ford); Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch in Toyotas; Martin Truex Jr. (Toyota); rookie Chase Elliott (Chevy); Jimmie Johnson (Chevy) and Denny Hamlin (Toyota).

Jimmie Johnson will drive a backup Chevy in Saturday’s race after wrecking his primary No. 48 car during Friday morning’s practice at Kentucky Speedway.

Drivers are getting used to a new asphalt surface and configuration at the 1.5 mile tri-oval along with new NASCAR downforce rules. The six-time Sprint Cup Series champion had posted the second-fastest practice speed (188.121 mph) in 17 laps before his car sustained right-side damage after hitting the wall in turn 4, forcing him to drive a backup car in Saturday night’s 400-mile race.

Johnson says he couldn’t see where the track was clean, the car wouldn’t turn “in the marbles” and he ended up in the wall.