LONG POND, Pennsylvania — Kyle Busch will start his drive for his fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup victory from a familiar spot after claiming pole position Friday for Sunday's race at Pocono Raceway. Busch made it three straight Cup poles for Joe Gibbs Racing following back-to-back wins from Carl Edwards.
Busch missed the first 11 races of the season with a broken right leg and left foot. He returned in late May and has won three consecutive Sprint Cup Series races and four of the last five.
“Hopefully, it's got 16 weeks left in it,” he said. “It's just amazing what we're on.”
He's trying to become the first Cup driver since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to win four straight races. Busch won on the road course at Sonoma, then took the last three races at Kentucky, New Hampshire and Indianapolis. Kevin Harvick qualified second, followed by Joey Logano, Austin Dillon and Tony Stewart.
Logano, who wasn't won since the Daytona 500, was no intimidated by Busch's winning streak.
“It doesn't get in our head. He is just fast right now,” Logano said. “We are not slow by any means. We are close. We know some areas we can improve on and like any good competitor you study what others are doing to beat you. You have to look at that. That is the only way you become better.”
Busch's delayed start to the season means he is 23 points away from cracking the top 30 in the standings despite his form surge. NASCAR granted him a waiver that will make him eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship should he be ranked inside the top 30 in points. He's shaved 150 points off the deficit over the last five races.
With another strong run in Sunday's race, Busch could hit the top 30 but he has never won at Pocono and has only eight top-10 finishes in 21 starts on the tri-oval track.
Kurt Busch qualified sixth, followed by Matt Kenseth, Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon. — AP
