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Kyle Larson edges Kyle Busch for All-Star pole

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Kyle Larson has earned his first All-Star pole position, which he says comes as a surprise. "I wasn't expecting to qualify this good," says Larson.

Kyle Larson nipped Kyle Busch by one-hundredth of a second to win his first Monster Energy All-Star Race pole Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

It was Larson’s first attempt at the qualifying format, which features three laps at a pit stop where there is no pit road speed limit.

“I knew everybody would try to push a little bit harder that last round,’' Larson said of the two-round session. “I just wanted to be mistake-free. My first attempt at it was pretty cool.’'

Kevin Harvick will start third and be followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch.
“As you look at the lap we probably could have run a couple tenths faster there, but, all in all, our goal was to not make any huge mistakes,’' Harvick said. “I feel like starting up front with the way that the tires are and the way that everything is will be a huge benefit.’'

The top five advanced to the second round and that determined the pole-winner. Kurt Busch had the fastest time over three laps and a pit stop but was penalized 10 seconds for two loose lug nuts, dropping him to fifth.

Johnson overshot his pit stall and had to back up. He was assessed a five-second penalty for his crew going over the wall too soon.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start sixth in his final All-Star Race.

Ryan Newman provided a smoke show with his qualifying run. As he began his attempt to enter the pits for his mandatory four-tire pit stop, Newman lost control of his No. 31 Chevrolet and slid sideways through Turn 4, producing a cloud of smoke. But Newman regained control and rocketed down pit road to make his stop.

Newman will start 15th Saturday night after a loose lug nut was found on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s car, knocking five seconds off his time.

Click here for All-Star qualifying results