Joey Logano Leads Ford Sweep in NASCAR Qualifying at New Hampshire
Joey Logano led a sweep of the top three spots for Ford in qualifying at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, marking the start of the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The three-time Cup Series champion enthusiastically celebrated his 33rd career pole position and the second of this season, after completing a lap of 29.159 seconds (130.622 mph) in the number 22 Ford, on the 1.058-mile oval. This is Logano’s first pole position at New Hampshire, the same place where he earned his first Cup victory in June 2009.Ryan Blaney, teammate, qualified second with the number 12 Ford, ensuring Team Penske dominated the front row of qualifying for the second time this season. It’s Penske’s eleventh pole position at New Hampshire.“Man, it’s my home track,” said Logano, who also won at New Hampshire in 2014. “It feels really good to run well here. Hopefully we can capitalize on this.”
Joey Logano
Josh Berry, whose Ford number 21 of Wood Brothers Racing has a competitive alliance with Penske, qualified third, recovering from elimination after three consecutive last places in the first round of the playoffs. Tyler Reddick qualified fourth and William Byron was fifth, with the playoff drivers occupying four of the top five positions. After sweeping the first round with three consecutive victories, Joe Gibbs Racing struggled on Saturday at a track where it has won three times in a row. Denny Hamlin was the team’s top qualifier in ninth place, and Christopher Bell, the favorite before the race, who has won two of the last three Cup races in New Hampshire, qualified in 19th place. The finishing positions for the remaining playoff drivers were: Ross Chastain in eighth place, Bubba Wallace in 14th, Kyle Larson in 16th, Chase Briscoe in 18th, Austin Cindric in 22nd, and Chase Elliott in 27th.“I feel good for Sunday,” commented Blaney, who matched his best starting position in New Hampshire with a lap that was 0.170 seconds behind Logano. “I thought I was close to getting the pole until I looked at the time. What a great lap by Joey and that group. It’s really cool to have a Penske front row.”
Ryan Blaney
