Hamlin Hot In Charlotte Qualifying

(CONCORD, NC – OCT 6, 2017 – RIS) Denny Hamlin took his No. 11 Fed-Ex Toyota to the top qualifying position for Sunday afternoon's Bank of America 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Only eleventh after the first session and moving to third in the second knockout qualifying session, he topped Matt Kenseth's Tide Toyota, also from the Joe Gibbs Racing stables, by sixteen thousandths of a second. Kenseth pipped Kevin Harvick by fourteen thousandths to put the Jimmy John's Ford in third, followed by a third JGR car. Kyle Busch will start off fourth, with Clint Bowyer fifth.

In the first practice of the day, Dale Earnhardt Jr smacked the wall in Turn Four, sending him to a backup car. Just a few moments later, Brad Keselowski slipped and tapped the wall with the right rear and right front corners of the car, but only minimal damage resulted.

TOYOTA QUOTES
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 1st
How big is it to get the pole at a race like this? "It's good, you always like to keep streaks alive. Hadn't had a pole this year and have had one every other year, but it's good. We've been so close and we've made so many final rounds, been in the top-five, but not as fast as our teammates. Today we adjusted on it, got it a little better each round and had some good will.

How important is it for you to start up front given how important track position is at Charlotte? "It's really big. This is a track position type race track. All of them are, but any mile and half you go to you want to have the number one pit stall, you want to be out in clean air. Good thing with our FedEx Toyota we had a good, fast car and put it on the top."

What's more important at Charlotte, the track position starting on the pole or the pit selection? "I think it's 50/50. Track position is only good if your car is fast enough to hold the position. But that pit stall can pay off all day long and we know my pit crew can do amazing things with a good pit stall, so we'll see how it all pans out."

Talk about your qualifying run and expectations for the race.
"The day really started off really well. The first time we hit the track we were P1 and just kind of ran the same lap time throughout the whole first practice and then we ran about the same lap time again in qualifying and it was enough. The good part about it with our cars it seemed like we got just a tiny bit faster each and every round when a lot of guys started backing up and that was the key for us to get the pole."

Did you know it was your 25th career pole? Do poles mean anything to you other than you get a better starting spot? "I had one pole and at least one win in every year of my career, so I knew that the time was running out to get a pole because I hadn't had one yet in 2017. I didn't keep track of the numbers, like how many, I just care about keeping the streak of winning at least one in every season alive."

Was practice earlier today meaningful if they're going to have to reapply the PJ1? "That's the first I've heard of the sprayer malfunction. My guess is that it was just the mixture was wrong. I don't know. It looks the same in (Turn) 1 and 2 to 3 and 4, but obviously some guys got up in it and it was treacherous. The only difference is that last time they drug tires on the PJ1 here last time and I thought that that kind of burnt in the stickiness. That PJ1 is not sticky until it gets hot and even here in the spring it took many many laps of cars running on it for it to get primed and get where it was good. I don't think we should draw too many conclusions off of practice. The first few cars, yes when they hit it it's going to be slick, but I think once we get the XFINITY race in and we start to see guys running in the middle and top, it's going to burn it in enough to where it's going to be very effective I think on Sunday. They know better than I do how they apply it and the proper way to apply it, but my guess is it must have been some kind of mixture problem between the two turns."

Does starting up front mean anything strategically in acquiring stage points? "I think if there's anyone that can afford to start deep, it's probably (Martin) Truex. He had so many points. For us it's a big bonus because we're in that kind of a middle spot in the grid right now where we have some decent playoff points, but we're still 40 or so behind Truex and maybe 30 or so behind Kyle (Busch) and we can knock a big chunk out of that if we run up front in the first two stages. So we've got the starting spot to do it, so we need to log all the points we can while we have the track position and I'm glad we're starting off this round this way and hopefully our car is good enough to stay there to get those points early on."

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Tide Pods Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 2nd
How much has this race track changed with the PJ1? "Qualifying I didn't have as big of a problem today. I was one of the most conservative guys probably just entering real straight, entering underneath it. It's just strange the way they applied it. They applied it so far out on the straightaway, off of (Turn) 2 and into 3 that it's impossible not to really drive across it. It was a challenging day, but it ended decent for us."

Do you think the track will change throughout this weekend with driver feedback? "I have no idea. I don't have any idea what they'll do. I think there's a lot of variables most likely coming this weekend, most of it being weather – weather and cars on the track. We'll just have to see what happens. It's the same for everybody."

Talk about your qualifying run and expectations for the race.

"Our qualifying run was good. Obviously saved our best lap for last. Practice was very challenging today. I was probably the last one to kind of be aggressive enough and run through that stuff on the track. I was pretty conservative most of the time. Got a good lap second round, made some good adjustments. Got a good lap in the third round. I just was a little too aggressive trying to get to the green and probably cost us the pole. Overall it was a good day for us."

Do you have confidence going into Sunday starting on the front row? "I mean I know that we've said this over and over again, but track position is obviously important – track position, restarts, pit stops, strategy, all that stuff. Not probably the easiest track we go to typically to pass, now being a day race and that stuff maybe to widen out some and be able to pass a little bit easier than normal hopefully. It's always important to be up front and try to get a good pit stall for Sunday. It's how you want to start your weekend."

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing, Starting Position: 4th
What were you missing there in qualifying to contend for the pole? "Confidence. I lost all my confidence after that last run we had there in practice. The Interstate Batteries Camry was really good today, just unfortunate that I got up in the stuff, the grippy stuff and it was slick. It just kind of washed us right out to the fence. We got it pretty good, so hands off – hats off to all my guys and all the hands that were on our race car today. They just worked really really hard to get it prepared and luckily enough we got it through tech and was able to get it on the track to make some qualifying runs and qualified fourth. Way better than being 40th or whatever so we get a good start for Sunday and we'll go get them from there."

MARTIN TRUEX JR, No.78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Camry, Furniture Row Racing
Starting Position: 17th
What were you missing to make the final round? "We just missed it a little bit, I don't really know why honestly. I felt pretty good in practice and we just - the car was just way freer than what it was earlier. So it's just one of them things - race cars."

KEVIN HARVICK – No. 4 Jimmy John's Ford Fusion – HOW WAS ROUND THREE DIFFERENT FROM ONE AND TWO?  "I didn't feel like I got to the green quite as good and I felt like I had a little bit to spare in one and I didn't.  I got the ground just a little bit and got up a foot and just had to wait a split-second, but we have a really good car.  We had three good rounds, a good starting spot and we'll go from there."

Ford Notes:
BRAD KESELOWSKI – No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Fusion – "That's not bad at all.  We had our hands full in practice and it was a really nice recovery by the team."  HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE A TEAM THAT OVERCOMES ADVERSITY LIKE YOU HAD TODAY?  "It's very, very important because life is no different than racing, there's a lot of adversity and it's not always how you respond when you're up, a lot of times it's how you respond when you're down."  WAS IT A CASE IN THAT FIRST ROUND OF GETTING A FEEL FOR THE CAR AGAIN AND HAVING MORE CONFIDENCE IN ROUNDS TWO AND THREE?  "Yeah, probably a little bit of that and then we needed to dial it in a little bit."

CLINT BOWYER – No. 14 Haas Automation Ford Fusion – WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN ROUND THREE?  "I got through one and two like I needed to.  I had been missing one and two like I needed to, and I was pretty good in three and four the first two stabs at it, and I got through one and two and thought this is my opportunity for a pole and got overconfident and drove it into three a little too hard.  The way it is, it's just a really, really narrow groove right there until that gets a little better, and I just slid up and got in the grease a little bit."

RYAN BLANEY – No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion – "We obviously want to be better.  We're starting 15th and hopefully we can work our way up.  We'll just have to see."

DANICA PATRICK – No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Ford Fusion – "That's far better than we do on a regular basis, so it was a good day.  We weren't that great in practice, so it's nice when the changes going into qualifying work."

TEAM CHEVY NOTES & QUOTES:
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 SUNENERGY1 CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 7th
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON YOUR QUALIFYING EFFORT TONIGHT AT CHARLOTTE? "Yeah, it was okay.  I think we ended up seventh, the NO. 2 (Brad Keselowski) got me there at the end.  It was alright, a little better than we have been qualifying by a spot or two, so small gains are worth something."

THOUGHTS ON THE PJ1: "Yeah, you know I about wrecked in it too.  I don't know what is going on with it today.  I don't know if something weird with the way they put it down or what it was, but it was slick today."

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 ROAD TO RACE DAY CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 9th
ON HIS QUALIFYING RUN: "Darian (Grubb, crew chief) and the guys kept making the car better, which was really nice.  I felt like I gave up just a little bit that final run in Turns 3 and 4, which cost us.  We probably could have qualified fifth.  So, wish I had done a little better there, but overall, we made gains each round and that was nice.  We have a decent starting spot for Sunday, so that is great."

THOUGHTS ON THE VHT OR THE PJ1: "I stayed out of it so far.  I'm scared of it.  I have seen other people get in it and it doesn't look good."

KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 10th
TALK ABOUT YOUR QUALIFYING EFFORT AND ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR STARTING SPOT? "I guess not really.  I don't know, the first run I thought I was kind of loose just turned to the bottom a lot quicker than I thought, so I think we kind of scared ourselves and maybe tightened up too much for the second round and then probably didn't go back enough for the third round.  So, I was still too tight those final two runs, but 10th will be okay.  It's a long race.  We will be alright."

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE VHT/PJ1 IT'S THE HOT TOPIC TODAY: "I think it was the worst idea ever for this track.  I think it's great for other tracks, but I don't think for a fast 1.5-mile it's good.  Obviously, it's slick and I don't think any of us are ever going to run up there, so I don't know."

JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 18th
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE VHT AND HOW HARD THAT HAS BEEN TO NAVIGATE AROUND AND THROUGH TODAY? "The VHT is just really slick. It seems that has worked well at some race tracks, it just hasn't here.  I got my right-side tires in it and you can't get out of it once you get in it and we only had that one… you really only have your one run.  The last run is like a hail Mary and you know you are not going to make it, but you still try really hard.  But, yeah, the VHT just hasn't worked out at this track very well."

HOW TOUGH IT PASSING HERE? "I don't know.  I guess it depends on how good your car is.  It's hard to pass everywhere right now, but if you get long green flag runs it certainly makes it a little bit easier if you have a good car."

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 23rd
THAT YOU GUYS EVEN MADE THE SECOND ROUND IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAD TO HUSTLE TO GET THE CAR OUT THERE: "Yeah, I think so. We really didn't get much time on the car in practice, so that first lap was a bit of a surprise.  We were on the splitter a little bit the first run. We bled the tires like we typically do. I think it got on the race track a little too hard that last lap and just knocked all the speed out of it.  But, we will get in here.  We just hadn't been able to really science on this car any and see where the travels are, so it doesn't surprise me it's on the splitter a little bit.  So, we will get in the garage here and take a look at it and start planning for our practice tomorrow.  We had to go around a couple of times and failed the LIS over and over today, so we lost a lot of practice time tomorrow, so it's going to be a tough weekend for us."

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 25th

IT WAS A BIT OF A HUSTLE TO GET THROUGH TECH. WHAT WERE YOU LACKING OR WHAT WERE YOU DEALING WITH ON THAT QUALIFYING RUN? "Multiple trips through the inspection line doesn't help by any stretch and we just missed it. So, another frustrating Friday, unfortunately; and we'll be back tomorrow and we'll have to pass a bunch of cars on Sunday. It sucks starting the weekend behind like this, but it is what it is and we're just going to have to go to work on Sunday."

WE'VE SEEN YOU COME FROM THE BACK OR MID-PACK TIME AND AGAIN TO GO ON TO WIN. HOW HAS THE GAME CHANGED WITH THESE STAGES IN THE PLAYOFFS? "There is far less opportunity to work strategy in order to leap-frog people and have something work for you. Last weekend in Dover we finally got to the top 3 and then the checkered fell. It just takes a long time to pass quality cars, and you get inside the top 10, and they're quality cars. It takes 50 laps per position and then you just mathematically run out of opportunity to get to the front. So, I'm disappointed with tonight. I'm disappointed with the way qualifying has been going. We're trying hard but we just can't get our fingers on it right now."

Time Trial Results: 58th Annual Bank of America 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Track Qualifying Record: Kyle Busch, 10/11/14, 27.357 sec, 197.39 mph

Qualifying Round 1
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Jimmy John's Ford, 28.039, 192.589, 1, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Haas Automation Ford, 28.135, 191.932, 1, 1, 0.096, 0.096
3) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, 28.186, 191.584, 1, 1, 0.147, 0.051
4) Daniel Suarez #, No. 19 STANLEY Toyota, 28.210, 191.421, 1, 1, 0.171, 0.024
5) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 28.216, 191.381, 1, 1, 0.177, 0.006
6) Michael McDowell, No. 95 Procore Chevrolet, 28.218, 191.367, 1, 1, 0.179, 0.002
7) Jamie McMurray (P), No. 1 Sherwin-Williams Chevrolet, 28.232, 191.272, 1, 1, 0.193, 0.014
8) Chase Elliott (P), No. 24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, 28.235, 191.252, 1, 1, 0.196, 0.003
9) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 28.243, 191.198, 1, 1, 0.204, 0.008
10) Chris Buescher, No. 37 Gain Chevrolet, 28.293, 190.860, 1, 1, 0.254, 0.050
11) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 28.306, 190.772, 1, 1, 0.267, 0.013
12) Matt Kenseth (P), No. 20 Tide Pods Toyota, 28.312, 190.732, 1, 1, 0.273, 0.006
13) Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Road to Race Day Chevrolet, 28.341, 190.537, 1, 1, 0.302, 0.029
14) Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 28.345, 190.510, 1, 1, 0.306, 0.004
15) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford, 28.355, 190.443, 3, 3, 0.316, 0.010
16) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, 28.379, 190.282, 1, 1, 0.340, 0.024
17) Kyle Larson (P), No. 42 Target Chevrolet, 28.384, 190.248, 1, 1, 0.345, 0.005
18) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 28.396, 190.168, 1, 1, 0.357, 0.012
19) Danica Patrick, No. 10 Warriors In Pink Ford, 28.399, 190.148, 1, 1, 0.360, 0.003
20) Aric Almirola, No. 43 Smithfield Ford, 28.423, 189.987, 1, 1, 0.384, 0.024
21) Paul Menard, No. 27 Menards/Schrock Chevrolet, 28.425, 189.974, 1, 1, 0.386, 0.002
22) Austin Dillon, No. 3 DOW Chevrolet, 28.439, 189.880, 1, 1, 0.400, 0.014
23) Martin Truex Jr (P), No. 78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, 28.503, 189.454, 1, 1, 0.464, 0.064
24) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. , No. 17 SunnyD Ford, 28.520, 189.341, 1, 1, 0.481, 0.017
25) Jimmie Johnson (P), No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, 28.538, 189.221, 1, 1, 0.499, 0.018
26) Trevor Bayne, No. 6 AdvoCare Ford, 28.572, 188.996, 1, 3, 0.533, 0.034
27) Ty Dillon #, No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, 28.661, 188.409, 1, 3, 0.622, 0.089
28) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 28.765, 187.728, 1, 3, 0.726, 0.104
29) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 32 EJ Wade Foundation Ford, 28.843, 187.220, 1, 1, 0.804, 0.078
30) Landon Cassill, No. 34 Love'sTravel Stops/Roller Bites Ford, 28.871, 187.039, 1, 1, 0.832, 0.028
31) David Ragan, No. 38 TheHouse.com Ford, 28.900, 186.851, 3, 3, 0.861, 0.029
32) Cole Whitt, No. 72 TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet, 28.986, 186.297, 1, 3, 0.947, 0.086
33) BJ McLeod(i), No. 51 Donnie Neuenberger Foundation Chevrolet, 29.286, 184.388, 1, 2, 1.247, 0.300
34) Reed Sorenson, No. 15 Xchange of America Chevrolet, 29.327, 184.131, 1, 2, 1.288, 0.041
35) Gray Gaulding #, No. 55 Low T Center Toyota, 29.501, 183.045, 1, 1, 1.462, 0.174
36) Timmy Hill(i), No. 66 O.C.R. Gaz Bar Chevrolet, 29.602, 182.420, 1, 1, 1.563, 0.101
37) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 33 hulu Chevrolet, 29.807, 181.165, 3, 3, 1.768, 0.205
38) Erik Jones #, No. 77 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----
39) Corey LaJoie #, No. 23 MyFreedomSmokes.com Toyota, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----
40) Brett Moffitt(i), No. 83 Champion Machinery Toyota, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----

Qualifying Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Jimmy John's Ford, 28.133, 191.945, 1, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Haas Automation Ford, 28.202, 191.476, 1, 1, 0.069, 0.069
3) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 28.205, 191.455, 1, 1, 0.072, 0.003
4) Matt Kenseth (P), No. 20 Tide Pods Toyota, 28.241, 191.211, 1, 1, 0.108, 0.036
5) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 28.271, 191.008, 1, 1, 0.138, 0.030
6) Kyle Larson (P), No. 42 Target Chevrolet, 28.273, 190.995, 1, 1, 0.140, 0.002
7) Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Road to Race Day Chevrolet, 28.294, 190.853, 1, 1, 0.161, 0.021
8) Chase Elliott (P), No. 24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, 28.306, 190.772, 1, 1, 0.173, 0.012
9) Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 28.334, 190.584, 1, 1, 0.201, 0.028
10) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford, 28.336, 190.570, 1, 1, 0.203, 0.002
11) Danica Patrick, No. 10 Warriors In Pink Ford, 28.392, 190.194, 1, 1, 0.259, 0.056
12) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, 28.421, 190.000, 1, 1, 0.288, 0.029
13) Austin Dillon, No. 3 DOW Chevrolet, 28.421, 190.000, 1, 3, 0.288, 0.000
14) Daniel Suarez #, No. 19 STANLEY Toyota, 28.449, 189.813, 1, 1, 0.316, 0.028
15) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 28.465, 189.707, 1, 3, 0.332, 0.016
16) Michael McDowell, No. 95 Procore Chevrolet, 28.484, 189.580, 1, 3, 0.351, 0.019
17) Martin Truex Jr (P), No. 78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, 28.496, 189.500, 1, 2, 0.363, 0.012
18) Jamie McMurray (P), No. 1 Sherwin-Williams Chevrolet, 28.540, 189.208, 1, 3, 0.407, 0.044
19) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 28.541, 189.201, 1, 1, 0.408, 0.001
20) Paul Menard, No. 27 Menards/Schrock Chevrolet, 28.546, 189.168, 1, 3, 0.413, 0.005
21) Chris Buescher, No. 37 Gain Chevrolet, 28.586, 188.904, 1, 1, 0.453, 0.040
22) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. , No. 17 SunnyD Ford, 28.812, 187.422, 1, 1, 0.679, 0.226
23) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, 28.833, 187.285, 1, 1, 0.700, 0.021
24) Aric Almirola, No. 43 Smithfield Ford, 29.088, 185.644, 1, 1, 0.955, 0.255

Qualifying Round 3
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Denny Hamlin (P), No. No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 28.184, 191.598, 1, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Matt Kenseth (P), No. 20 Tide Pods Toyota, 28.200, 191.489, 1, 1, 0.016, 0.016
3) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Jimmy John's Ford, 28.214, 191.394, 1, 1, 0.030, 0.014
4) Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 28.281, 190.941, 1, 1, 0.097, 0.067
5) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Haas Automation Ford, 28.334, 190.584, 1, 1, 0.150, 0.053
6) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford, 28.338, 190.557, 1, 1, 0.154, 0.004
7) Chase Elliott (P), No. 24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, 28.360, 190.409, 1, 1, 0.176, 0.022
8) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 28.367, 190.362, 1, 1, 0.183, 0.007
9) Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Road to Race Day Chevrolet, 28.388, 190.221, 1, 1, 0.204, 0.021
10) Kyle Larson (P), No. 42 Target Chevrolet, 28.411, 190.067, 1, 1, 0.227, 0.023
11) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, 28.449, 189.813, 1, 1, 0.265, 0.038
12) Danica Patrick, No. 10 Warriors In Pink Ford, 28.539, 189.215, 1, 1, 0.355, 0.090

Starting Line Up, 58th Annual Bank of America 500, Charlotte Motor Speedway

Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 28.184, 191.598
2) Matt Kenseth (P), No. 20 Tide Pods Toyota, 28.200, 191.489
3) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Jimmy John's Ford, 28.214, 191.394
4) Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 28.281, 190.941
5) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Haas Automation Ford, 28.334, 190.584
6) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford, 28.338, 190.557
7) Chase Elliott (P), No. 24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, 28.360, 190.409
8) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 28.367, 190.362
9) Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Road to Race Day Chevrolet, 28.388, 190.221
10) Kyle Larson (P), No. 42 Target Chevrolet, 28.411, 190.067
11) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, 28.449, 189.813
12) Danica Patrick, No. 10 Warriors In Pink Ford, 28.539, 189.215
13) Austin Dillon, No. 3 DOW Chevrolet, 28.421, 190.000
14) Daniel Suarez #, No. 19 STANLEY Toyota, 28.449, 189.813
15) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 28.465, 189.707
16) Michael McDowell, No. 95 Procore Chevrolet, 28.484, 189.580
17) Martin Truex Jr (P), No. 78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, 28.496, 189.500
18) Jamie McMurray (P), No. 1 Sherwin-Williams Chevrolet, 28.540, 189.208
19) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 28.541, 189.201
20) Paul Menard, No. 27 Menards/Schrock Chevrolet, 28.546, 189.168
21) Chris Buescher, No. 37 Gain Chevrolet, 28.586, 188.904
22) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P), No. 17 SunnyD Ford, 28.812, 187.422
23) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, 28.833, 187.285
24) Aric Almirola, No. 43 Smithfield Ford, 29.088, 185.644
25) Jimmie Johnson (P), No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, 28.538, 189.221
26) Trevor Bayne, No. 6 AdvoCare Ford, 28.572, 188.996
27) Ty Dillon #, No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, 28.661, 188.409
28) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 28.765, 187.728
29) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 32 EJ Wade Foundation Ford, 28.843, 187.220
30) Landon Cassill, No. 34 Love'sTravel Stops/Roller Bites Ford, 28.871, 187.039
31) David Ragan, No. 38 TheHouse.com Ford, 28.900, 186.851
32) Cole Whitt, No. 72 TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet, 28.986, 186.297
33) BJ McLeod(i), No. 51 Donnie Neuenberger Foundation Chevrolet, 29.286, 184.388
34) Reed Sorenson, No. 15 Xchange of America Chevrolet, 29.327, 184.131
35) Gray Gaulding #, No. 55 Low T Center Toyota, 29.501, 183.045
36) Timmy Hill(i), No. 66 O.C.R. Gaz Bar Chevrolet, 29.602, 182.420
37) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 33 hulu Chevrolet, 29.807, 181.165
38) Erik Jones #, No. 77 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota, 0.000, 0.000
39) Corey LaJoie #, No. 23 MyFreedomSmokes.com Toyota, 0.000, 0.000
40) Brett Moffitt(i), No. 83 Champion Machinery Toyota, 0.000, 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (P) Playoff qualified

Earlier in the day, Motor Racing Outreach staged the Better Half Dash for wives and girlfriends of drivers and crew, driving Bandoleros on the quarter-mile oval on the track's front stretch. Jennifer Anderson drove to victory in Friday’s seventh annual race during Bojangles’ Pole Night. The 25-lap Bandolero battle among the better halves of NASCAR personalities saw Anderson prevail thanks to an impressive late-race restart over Tammy Rice and Kate Tomaino. Anderson got by Rice and race leader Paige Keselowski on Lap 17 of the popular event, which raises money for Motor Racing Outreach and driver-chosen charities.

“It was hard (to win) but it was a lot of fun,” said Anderson, the girlfriend of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Wayne Self. “It was awesome to have the Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation on our car. This is for them. The race was tough. It didn’t come easy. It has been really fun getting to know all these ladies throughout the past month and a half. It means a lot to win at the same place my brother (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver) Jordan (Anderson) has won.”

Rice got some tips from her husband, Kaulig Racing crew chief Chris Rice, while Tomaino – the wife of NASCAR mechanic Trey Tomaino – rallied from the tail of the field to score a podium result. Rounding out the top five were Chelsea Fetzer (wife of Chip Ganassi racing tire carrier Ben Fetzer) and Marisa Erspamer (wife of Hendrick Motorsports tire carrier Jared Erspamer).

Pole winner Paige Keselowski, the wife of Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski, finished sixth after leading the most laps but suffering a flat tire two-thirds of the way into the race.

The Better Half Dash events have now raised more than $300,000 for charities.

The final event of the day was the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series Southern Slam 150, also held on the quarter mile oval. Doug Coby drove down from Connecticut to take the win over Danny Bohn and score his 24th career win. “We traveled a long way down here (from Milford, Connecticut) so we’re leaving with some bonus money,” Coby said. “It’s tough racing these cars. Danny did a good job. It’s nice to get a win. We came down here to do one thing: win.”

Ryan Preece looked to be the class of the field but suffered a mechanical failure after 80 laps, sending him to the garage.

Pos, Driver, No., Sponsor, Laps, Diff

1, Doug Coby, No. 2, Mayhew Tools/Dunleavy/AJ Romano Const, 150, 

2, Danny Bohn, No. 65, Rustoleum/Dunleavy's/Bilstein Shocks, 150, 1.049

3, Calvin Carroll*, No. 39, Power with Prestige/Cruising w/Betty, 149, 1 Lap

4, Jamie Tomaino, No. 99, Dunleavy Truck Repair/Atlantic Sprinkler, 149, 1 Lap

5, Bobby Measmer, Jr., No. 14A, Lead 2 Real Estate/Crispy's Bar & Grille, 148, 2 Laps

6, Derek Kraus*, No. 77, Menards/Curb Records, 147, 3 Laps

7, CJ Lehmann*, No. 74, IGA Food Markets, 147, 3 Laps

8, Lauren Edgerton*, No. 72, Precision Powder Coating, 141, 9 Laps

9, Corey LaJoie, No. 11, Dunleavy Truck & Trailer Repair, 109, 41 Laps

10, Ryan Preece, No. 7, T.S. Hauler, 80, 70 Laps

11, Jeremy Gerstner, No. 75, Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer/William E. Smith Trucking, 66, 84 Laps

12, Trey Hutchens III, No. 14, Hayes Jewelers, 58, 92 Laps