MENCS: Ryan Blaney Scores Pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Ryan Blaney scored the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400. Blaney, piloting the No. 12 Menards / Pennzoil Ford with Penske Racing, posted a 28.200, 191.489 mph. in the final round of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying. The 24-year old driver, with one top 10 finish in 2018, scored his third career premier series pole.

Kevin Harvick, who won last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, will start second in the No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford. Harvick, a native from California, posted a 28.384, 190.248 mph. in the final round. The series veteran holds one top five and one top 10 finish this season.

Rounding out the top three starters on Sunday will be Kurt Busch. Busch, a driver from Las Vegas, posted a 28.411, 190.067 mph. in the No. 41 Haas Ford.

Kyle Busch, a brother of Kurt Busch, missed the final round of knockout qualifying and will start 13th at his home track. The driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota posted a 28.596, 188.838 mph.

Always favorite Jimmie Johnson will start 14th in the Lowe’s For Pros Chevrolet. Johnson comes into the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking to score his first top 10 finish of the season.

Johnson’s teammate William Byron will start 17th. Byron, the highest starting rookie on Sunday, posted a 28.668, 188.363 mph. in the AXALTA Chevrolet.

Cole Custer, making his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut, posted the 30th fastest time on Friday. Custer, driving the No. 51 Haas Automation Ford, posted a 29.035, 185.982 mph. in round one.

A total of 37 entries were featured on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series entry list. That means there were no DNQs.

Brett Winningham
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