Kyle Busch Takes the Poll at Loudon
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Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR(LOUDON, N.H.) — Less than a week after being upside down, Kyle Busch finds himself at the head of the pack prior to Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Busch won the poll for Sunday’s event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway by setting a new track record.
Busch posted a top lap speed of 138.130 mph, winning his second poll of the season. Jimmie Johnson will start alongside him while Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, and Jamie McMurray round out the top five. The first place start comes less than a week after Busch’s race came to an early close. The No. 18 car was involved in a 25-car wreck last week at Daytona, one that resulted in Busch ending up upside down.
“I thought it was a little bit tight but I guess I was driving through it enough that it was still carrying good speed,” Busch said. “Lap felt good. It didn’t feel that good, but it felt good.”
The record time marked the 13th time this season a track record has been broken during qualifying at a NASCAR event. Also qualifying was 72-year-old Morgan Shepard, who made the field when the 44th entrant dropped out. When the race begins Sunday, Shepard will extend his own record as the oldest driver to take part in a Sprint Cup race.
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