BRISTOL, Tenn. – For the third time this season, Kyle Larson will start a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race from the pole.
And for the second time this year, he gained the top starting spot not through qualifying in time trials, but with an assist from Mother Nature.
Because of intermittent rain at Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR canceled qualifying in favor of necessary practice for teams in the Cup, XFINITY and K&N Pro Series East Series.
With the field for Sunday’s Food City 500 (2 p.m. ET on FOX) ordered according to owner points, Larson will start up front as the series leader, with second-place Chase Elliott beside him. Those are familiar positions for both drivers, who started in the same spots when rain wiped out qualifying for the April 2 race at Martinsville.
Interestingly, Larson posted his worst finish of the season in that race — 17th. Otherwise, in the six events since he ran 12th in the season-opening Daytona 500, the driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet has a victory from the pole at Fontana, California, and four second-place finishes.
Elliott, on the other hand, finished third at Martinsville, matching his best result of the season.
Martin Truex Jr. will start third on Sunday, followed by Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.
Keselowski is the only two-time winner this season, having gone to Victory Lane at both Atlanta and Martinsville.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tennessee
Friday, April 21, 2017
1. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 1st.
2. (24) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 2nd.
3. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 3rd.
4. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 4th.
5. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 5th.
6. (21) Ryan Blaney, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 6th.
7. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 7th.
8. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 8th.
9. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 9th.
10. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 10th.
11. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 11th.
12. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 12th.
13. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 13th.
14. (77) Erik Jones #, Toyota, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 14th.
15. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 15th.
16. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 16th.
17. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 17th.
18. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 18th.
19. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 19th.
20. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 20th.
21. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 21st.
22. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 22nd.
23. (19) Daniel Suarez #, Toyota, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 23rd.
24. (13) Ty Dillon #, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 24th.
25. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 25th.
26. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 26th.
27. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 27th.
28. (95) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 28th.
29. (10) Danica Patrick, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 29th.
30. (34) Landon Cassill, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 30th.
31. (72) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 31st.
32. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 32nd.
33. (38) David Ragan, Ford, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 33rd.
34. (15) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 34th.
35. (83) * Corey LaJoie #, Toyota, Open Team – 2017 Owner Point 35th.
36. (23) Gray Gaulding #, Toyota, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 36th.
37. (33) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, Charter Team – 2017 Owner Point 39th.
38. (51) * Timmy Hill(i), Chevrolet, Open Team – 2017 Owner Point 40th.
39. (55) * Derrike Cope, Toyota, Open Team – 2017 Owner Point 41st.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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