CONCORD, N.C. -- Kyle Busch will start from his second career pole in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.
Busch claimed his third pole of the season Thursday with a top speed of 191.836 mph around Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Busch’s last Coke 600 pole was in 2008. His only other Charlotte pole was in 2014.
He has never won a points race at Charlotte.
“The M&M’s Camry was fast, it felt pretty good,” Busch told Fox Sports 1. “The guys did an amazing job in practice, we weren’t very good in practice. ... Fortunately I had extra track time, so I got my Xfinity ride to thank a little bit of that today. It’s all good, it was pure talent all the way around, this whole team.”
Busch’s “pure talent” remark was a reference to his criticism of his team following last week’s Camping World Truck Series race.
Busch will be joined on the front row by Joey Logano, who posted a speed of 191.218 mph. It ties Logano’s career-best qualifying result at Charlotte and his best for the year.
Completing the top five is Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones and Brad Keselowski.
Ryan Newman qualified sixth. It’s his best Coke 600 starting spot since winning the pole in 2010.
Of the top 11 qualifiers, none have won the Coke 600.
None of Hendrick Motorsports’ four cars will start in the top 20.
William Byron qualified 21st and he was followed by Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson. Alex Bowman qualified 27th.
“I got told that the fast guys had run the top and I tried it and it didn’t work,” Bowman said. “I mean that’s my fault, I should have stuck with what I know, but our Nationwide 88 car is not bad, we shouldn’t be the far back, but we will be okay on Sunday.”
Kevin Harvick, the defending pole-sitter for the race, will start from the rear after his No. 4 Ford failed inspection three times. His car chief, Robert Smith, has been ejected for the rest of the race weekend. Harvick will serve a 30 minute practice hold on Saturday.
Harvick is trying to win three consecutive races for the second time this season.
JJ Yeley also didn’t make a qualifying run and will start from the rear.
Ross Chastain, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Michael McDowell and AJ Allmendinger did not advance out of the first round.
#NASCAR ... Crew chief Rodney Childers working on right rear of Kevin Harvick’s car after it failed inspection and didn’t make a qualifying attempt pic.twitter.com/AEp4NOBiog
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) May 24, 2018