It took an extra 15 minutes but Joey Logano secured the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway Friday. The Penske Racing driver, who had missed the pole and started second for the last two races, put down a lap of 36.080 seconds, 199.557 mph early in the final five minute session and was able to hang on for his 16th career pole, his second of 2016 and his second at Michigan.
“It just feels really good because the last couple of weeks we’ve come in second in the final round,” Logano said. “We’ve been qualifying really well with this 22 car, we just haven’t had the pole, so it’s really nice to finally break through and get a pole with this new package. It really goes to show how great this Team Penske is on preparing cars from the shop and really not knowing what they’re coming to. It has some great adjustability in it and a fast car, obviously.”
Martin Truex Jr. who had grabbed the pole from Logano at Charlotte two weeks ago tried to repeat that move again going out late in the final five minutes, but came up just short with a lap of 36.178 seconds, 199.016 mph to secure second. Tony Stewart, who missed the first eight races of the season due to an injury, grabbed his best starting position of the year and will start third Sunday.
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.
- NASCAR to debut new short track package at Phoenix - February 28, 2023
- The Wrench Who Stole Racing - December 16, 2022
- Matt DiBenedetto’s excellent run comes to abrupt, violent end - February 17, 2019
