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Sprint Cup at Pocono: Kurt Busch earns third pole of season

kubu pocono1 pole 2015 getty

Kurt Busch earned his third pole of the season – in just 11 attempts – Friday at Pocono Raceway.

Busch (177.599 mph) will start Sunday’s Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 on the front row alongside second-fastest qualifier Carl Edwards (177.550 mph).

It was the 19th career pole for Busch, who also took the top spot this season at Fontana and Texas.

“What a day today,” Busch told Fox Sports 1. “I feel like there were six corners out there. … We reverted to the setup when we sat on the outside pole here last year.

“We’ll take it. We worked real hard for it. I’m surprised and happy at the teamwork.”

It’s the first front row start for Edwards this season.

Martin Truex Jr. qualified third (177.522 mph), followed by Jeff Gordon (177.211) and Kevin Harvick (177.200).

Austin Dillon was sixth-fastest (176.526), followed by Brad Keselowski (175.967).

However, five drivers failed to lay down a qualifying time in the third and final round. They’ll start eighth through 12th, based upon their times in the second round of qualifying.

The reason the five couldn’t register a lap was due to Denny Hamlin spinning out, making it impossible for the other drivers to also make a lap in the allotted time: Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne.

“I’m sure there’ll be some talking to NASCAR from the guys who didn’t run a lap,” Truex said. “I know if I were one of those guys, I’d be mad.”

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