Kyle Busch waited until the last minute and needed just one lap to earn the pole for Saturday’s Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Michigan International Speedway.
Busch recorded the fourth-fastest qualifying speed in NNS history, covering the two-mile, high-speed MIS surface with a track record at 193.242 mph (at 37.259 seconds).
It was Busch’s first NNS pole at Michigan.
“Just being a little bit further back in line helped out a little bit, but we have a fast race car and were able to hold the pedal down much of the way around,” Busch said. “Being able to do all that, putting it all together, just worked in our favor.”
Chase Elliott was second-fastest at 192.735 mph, followed by Ty Dillon (192.513), Kyle Larson (192.287) and Paul Menard (192.195).
Sixth through 12th-fastest were Brian Scott (192.041), Dylan Kwasniewski (191.857), Regan Smith (191.505), Joey Logano (191.123), Chris Buescher (184.895), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (158.541) and Elliott Sadler.
Sadler did not record a speed in the third and final round of knockout qualifying because his Toyota Camry brushed the outside retaining wall while making his attempt.
Here’s the starting lineup for Saturday’s Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 250 at Michigan International Speedway:
Row 1 Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott
Row 2 Ty Dillon, Kyle Larson
Row 3 Paul Menard, Brian Scott
Row 4 Dylan Kwasniewski, Regan Smith
Row 5 Joey Logano, Chris Buescher
Row 6 Dale Earnhardt Jr., Elliot Sadler
Row 7 Sam Hornish Jr., Trevor Bayne
Row 8 Ryan Sieg, Brendan Gaughan
Row 9 Ross Chastain, Dakoda Armstrong
Row 10 Mike Bliss, JJ Yeley
Row 11 James Buescher, Blake Koch
Row 12 Jamie Dick, Ryan Reed
Row 13 Josh Wise, Landon Cassill
Row 14 Jeff Green, Jeremy Clements
Row 15 Jeffrey Earnhardt, Mike Harmon
Row 16 Carl Long, Kevin Lepage
Row 17 Matt Carter, Tanner Berryhill
Row 18 Derrike Cope, Benny Gordon
Row 19 Ryan Ellis, Harrison Rhodes
Row 20 Tim Schendel, Tommy Joe Martins
DNQ: Matt DiBenedetto, Morgan Schepherd
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