Kyle Busch denied Ryan Newman a record-breaking eighth career pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway, nipping Newman to take the top starting spot for Sunday’s race.
Busch earned the pole with a lap of 184.652 mph. Newman ran a lap of 184.419 mph in the final round -- a difference of 38-thousandths of a second.
Newman will start second and be followed by Kevin Harvick (184.388 mph), Daniel Suarez (184.229) and Brad Keselowski (183.856). Newman remains tied with Buddy Baker for most career poles at Atlanta with seven. Newman, though, will make his 12th career front row start at Atlanta.
This is Busch’s first career Cup pole at Atlanta and 28th in his career.
Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott all failed to qualify in the top 24 to advance to the second round.
“We’re way off,’' Elliott told Fox Sports 1. “Not even close.’'
Dillon will start 25th, Blaney 26th and Elliott 27th.
Martin Truex Jr. did not make a qualifying attempt after his car failed three times to pass inspection. Truex won seven of the 11 races on 1.5-mile tracks last season. He was eighth at Atlanta a year ago. Truex will start 35th in the 36-car field.