Joey Logano Leads Ford Sweep in NASCAR Qualifying at New Hampshire
Joey Logano led a sweep of the top three positions 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 the season, after completing a lap of 29.159 seconds (130.622 mph) aboard the number 22 Ford on the 1.058-mile oval.This is the first pole position for the driver from Middletown, Connecticut, in New Hampshire, the scene of his first Cup victory in June 2009.
Ryan Blaney, teammate, will start second in the number 12 Ford, thus securing Team Penske the front row in qualifying for the second time this season. It’s Penske’s 11th pole position at New Hampshire.“Man, it’s my home track,” said Logano, who also won in New Hampshire in 2014. “It feels really good to run well here. Hopefully we can capitalize.”
Joey Logano
Josh Berry, whose Ford number 21 of Wood Brothers Racing has a competitive alliance with Penske, qualified third, achieving a recovery after being eliminated with three consecutive last-place finishes in the first round of the playoffs. Tyler Reddick qualified fourth, and William Byron was fifth, with playoff drivers occupying four of the top five starting positions. After sweeping the first round with three consecutive wins, 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 19th. The finishing positions for the remaining playoff drivers were: Ross Chastain in eighth place, Bubba Wallace 14th, Kyle Larson 16th, Chase Briscoe 18th, Austin Cindric 22nd, and Chase Elliott 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 off Logano. “I thought I was close to getting the pole until I saw the time. What a great lap by Joey and that group. It’s great to have a Penske front row.”
Ryan Blaney
