Blaney and Harvick Put Two Strong Fords on the Front Row at Pocono

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LONG POND, PA – RIS – Ryan Blaney led the final round of qualifying at Pocono Raceway on Friday, winning the pole and gave notice to the field that he still remembers how to win at the “Tricky Triangle,” the site of his first Cup win.  Blaney beat Kevin Harvick for the pole.  Harvick will start alongside him on the front row on Sunday.

It was the fourth career pole for Blaney.

Blaney’s fourth career pole puts him in position to repeat and earn an automatic spot in NASCAR’s playoffs. He gave the famed Wood Brothers their 99th career win last season, a ride strengthened by an alliance with Team Penske. Roger Penske wanted the 24-year-old budding star in his NASCAR stable and put him in the No. 12 Ford this season.

Blaney, son of former NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, grandson of dirt track star Lou Blaney, has led 418 laps this season and is 11th in the points standings.

”It is always nice to come back to a place you have had success at and won at,” he said. ”It gives you confidence as a driver and as a whole team, everyone’s confidence is up. Obviously, you want to repeat that. You want to win every week but when you come back to a place where you have had success, that definitely is nice.”

Jamie McMurray, Martin Truex Jr., and Kyle Busch complete the top five.

Harvick is a whopping 0 for 34 at Pocono and stands with Kentucky as the only active tracks where he’s failed to win a Cup race. He’s getting closer to the checkered – Harvick was runner-up in both 2017 Pocono races.

He expected to race for the win again on Sunday, and spoke with confidence about the 400-mile race on Sunday.

”These guys have given me fast race cars every week,” Harvick said.

Harvick and Busch have won nine of 13 Cup races this season and each have earned enough playoff points that they’re already stout favorites to race for the championship in the season finale at Homestead.

The one thing Harvick and Busch haven’t done this season? Race each other hard down the stretch for either of their victories. The Harvick vs. Busch for the victory has yet to truly materialize.

 Time Trial Results, 37th Annual Pocono 400, Pocono Raceway
Qualifying Round 1
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Beer Ford, 51.151, 175.950, 1, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Kyle Larson, No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet, 51.193, 175.805, 1, 1, 0.042, 0.042
3) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 51.345, 175.285, 1, 1, 0.194, 0.152
4) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 51.366, 175.213, 1, 1, 0.215, 0.021
5) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Duracell Ford, 51.369, 175.203, 1, 1, 0.218, 0.003
6) Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, 51.384, 175.152, 1, 1, 0.233, 0.015
7) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Busch Light Ford, 51.402, 175.090, 2, 2, 0.251, 0.018
8) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 51.404, 175.084, 2, 2, 0.253, 0.002
9) William Byron #, No. 24 Unifirst Chevrolet, 51.460, 174.893, 1, 1, 0.309, 0.056
10) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 GEARWRENCH Chevrolet, 51.473, 174.849, 1, 1, 0.322, 0.013
11) Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, 51.487, 174.801, 1, 1, 0.336, 0.014
12) Alex Bowman, No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, 51.494, 174.778, 1, 1, 0.343, 0.007
13) Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Red White & Blue Toyota, 51.532, 174.649, 1, 1, 0.381, 0.038
14) Daniel Suarez, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota, 51.565, 174.537, 1, 1, 0.414, 0.033
15) Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Wurth Ford, 51.642, 174.277, 1, 1, 0.491, 0.077
16) Paul Menard, No. 21 Motorcraft /Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 51.650, 174.250, 1, 1, 0.499, 0.008
17) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Chevrolet, 51.688, 174.122, 1, 1, 0.537, 0.038
18) Darrell Wallace Jr. #, No. 43 Weis Markets Chevrolet, 51.726, 173.994, 1, 1, 0.575, 0.038
19) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 51.738, 173.953, 1, 1, 0.587, 0.012
20) Kasey Kahne, No. 95 FDNY Foundation Chevrolet, 51.766, 173.859, 3, 3, 0.615, 0.028
21) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Chevrolet, 51.921, 173.340, 1, 1, 0.770, 0.155
22) David Ragan, No. 38 MDS Transport Ford, 51.929, 173.314, 3, 3, 0.778, 0.008
23) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Little Hug Fruit Barrels Ford, 51.972, 173.170, 3, 3, 0.821, 0.043
24) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 52.007, 173.054, 1, 1, 0.856, 0.035
25) Erik Jones, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 52.081, 172.808, 1, 1, 0.930, 0.074
26) Matt Kenseth, No. 6 Ford Ford, 52.140, 172.612, 1, 3, 0.989, 0.059
27) Chris Buescher, No. 37 Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet, 52.187, 172.457, 3, 3, 1.036, 0.047
28) Cole Custer(i), No. 51 Haas CNC/Prefund Capital Ford, 52.197, 172.424, 3, 3, 1.046, 0.010
29) Ty Dillon, No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, 52.658, 170.914, 3, 3, 1.507, 0.461
30) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford, 52.703, 170.768, 1, 3, 1.552, 0.045
31) Ross Chastain(i), No. 15 Chevrolet, 52.908, 170.107, 1, 1, 1.757, 0.205
32) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 32 Zynga Poker Ford, 53.354, 168.685, 1, 1, 2.203, 0.446
33) Landon Cassill, No. 00 TW Cable LLC Chevrolet, 53.477, 168.297, 1, 1, 2.326, 0.123
34) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 53.855, 167.115, 1, 2, 2.704, 0.378
35) Cole Whitt, No. 72 Chevrolet, 53.882, 167.032, 3, 3, 2.731, 0.027
36) Gray Gaulding, No. 23 BK Racing Toyota, 53.927, 166.892, 2, 2, 2.776, 0.045
37) JJ Yeley(i), No. 7* Steakhouse Elite Chevrolet, 53.935, 166.868, 1, 1, 2.784, 0.008
38) Derrike Cope, No. 99* StarCom Fiber Chevrolet, 54.753, 164.375, 1, 1, 3.602, 0.818

Qualifying Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Beer Ford, 51.068, 176.236, 1, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Red White & Blue Toyota, 51.132, 176.015, 1, 1, 0.064, 0.064
3) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Duracell Ford, 51.217, 175.723, 1, 1, 0.149, 0.085
4) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Chevrolet, 51.241, 175.641, 1, 1, 0.173, 0.024
5) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 51.256, 175.589, 1, 1, 0.188, 0.015
6) Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, 51.272, 175.534, 1, 1, 0.204, 0.016
7) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 51.290, 175.473, 1, 1, 0.222, 0.018
8) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 GEARWRENCH Chevrolet, 51.300, 175.439, 1, 1, 0.232, 0.010
9) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 51.327, 175.346, 1, 1, 0.259, 0.027
10) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 51.388, 175.138, 1, 1, 0.320, 0.061
11) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Busch Light Ford, 51.457, 174.903, 1, 1, 0.389, 0.069
12) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Chevrolet, 51.497, 174.767, 1, 2, 0.429, 0.040
13) Kyle Larson, No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet, 51.524, 174.676, 3, 3, 0.456, 0.027
14) Alex Bowman, No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, 51.579, 174.490, 1, 1, 0.511, 0.055
15) Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, 51.616, 174.365, 1, 1, 0.548, 0.037
16) William Byron #, No. 24 Unifirst Chevrolet, 51.649, 174.253, 2, 2, 0.581, 0.033
17) Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Wurth Ford, 51.661, 174.213, 1, 3, 0.593, 0.012
18) Daniel Suarez, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota, 51.690, 174.115, 1, 1, 0.622, 0.029
19) Darrell Wallace Jr. #, No. 43 Weis Markets Chevrolet, 51.811, 173.708, 1, 1, 0.743, 0.121
20) Paul Menard, No. 21 Motorcraft /Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 51.833, 173.635, 1, 1, 0.765, 0.022
21) David Ragan, No. 38 MDS Transport Ford, 51.934, 173.297, 1, 1, 0.866, 0.101
22) Kasey Kahne, No. 95 FDNY Foundation Chevrolet, 52.024, 172.997, 1, 1, 0.956, 0.090
23) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Little Hug Fruit Barrels Ford, 52.182, 172.473, 1, 1, 1.114, 0.158
24) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----

Qualifying Round 3
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Duracell Ford, 50.877, 176.897, 1, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Beer Ford, 50.903, 176.807, 1, 1, 0.026, 0.026
3) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 GEARWRENCH Chevrolet, 50.955, 176.626, 1, 1, 0.078, 0.052
4) Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, 50.987, 176.516, 1, 1, 0.110, 0.032
5) Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Red White & Blue Toyota, 50.998, 176.478, 1, 1, 0.121, 0.011
6) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 51.076, 176.208, 1, 1, 0.199, 0.078
7) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 51.083, 176.184, 1, 1, 0.206, 0.007
8) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Chevrolet, 51.176, 175.864, 1, 1, 0.299, 0.093
9) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Busch Light Ford, 51.195, 175.798, 1, 1, 0.318, 0.019
10) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 51.197, 175.792, 1, 1, 0.320, 0.002
11) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 51.361, 175.230, 1, 1, 0.484, 0.164
12) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Chevrolet, 51.520, 174.689, 1, 1, 0.643, 0.159

Starting Line Up, 37th Annual Pocono 400, Pocono Raceway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Duracell Ford, 50.877, 176.897
2) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Beer Ford, 50.903, 176.807
3) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 GEARWRENCH Chevrolet, 50.955, 176.626
4) Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, 50.987, 176.516
5) Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Red White & Blue Toyota, 50.998, 176.478
6) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 51.076, 176.208
7) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 51.083, 176.184
8) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Chevrolet, 51.176, 175.864
9) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Busch Light Ford, 51.195, 175.798
10) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, 51.197, 175.792
11) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 51.361, 175.230
12) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Chevrolet, 51.520, 174.689
13) Kyle Larson, No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet, 51.524, 174.676
14) Alex Bowman, No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, 51.579, 174.490
15) Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, 51.616, 174.365
16) William Byron #, No. 24 Unifirst Chevrolet, 51.649, 174.253
17) Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Wurth Ford, 51.661, 174.213
18) Daniel Suarez, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota, 51.690, 174.115
19) Darrell Wallace Jr. #, No. 43 Weis Markets Chevrolet, 51.811, 173.708
20) Paul Menard, No. 21 Motorcraft /Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center, 51.833, 173.635
21) David Ragan, No. 38 MDS Transport Ford, 51.934, 173.297
22) Kasey Kahne, No. 95 FDNY Foundation Chevrolet, 52.024, 172.997
23) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Little Hug Fruit Barrels Ford, 52.182, 172.473
24) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 52.007, 173.054
25) Erik Jones, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 52.081, 172.808
26) Matt Kenseth, No. 6 Ford Ford, 52.140, 172.612
27) Chris Buescher, No. 37 Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet, 52.187, 172.457
28) Cole Custer(i), No. 51 Haas CNC/Prefund Capital Ford, 52.197, 172.424
29) Ty Dillon, No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, 52.658, 170.914
30) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford, 52.703, 170.768
31) Ross Chastain(i), No. 15 Chevrolet, 52.908, 170.107
32) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 32 Zynga Poker Ford, 53.354, 168.685
33) Landon Cassill, No. 00 TW Cable LLC Chevrolet, 53.477, 168.297
34) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 53.855, 167.115
35) Cole Whitt, No. 72 Chevrolet, 53.882, 167.032
36) Gray Gaulding, No. 23 BK Racing Toyota, 53.927, 166.892
37) JJ Yeley(i), No. 7 Steakhouse Elite Chevrolet, 53.935, 166.868
38) Derrike Cope, No. 99 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet, 54.753, 164.375

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (*) non-charter team

Ron Fleshman with John Davison

RIS NASCAR Editor.  Has been with RIS since the middle 90's. Writes on each of the three main series of NASCAR.

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Volume 2018, Issue 6, Posted 9:33 PM, 06.01.2018