Times wires
Friday, March 4, 2011
Unfamiliar perch for quick Kenseth
LAS VEGAS — Matt Kenseth was all too aware of his lousy qualifying record, and even with a fast car, he figured he'd screw up his Friday lap around Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
He didn't, though, instead turning a flawless lap at 188.884 mph to set a track record. It was the fifth pole of his Sprint Cup career and first since Darlington in 2009.
"Five in 12 years? That's a little better than I thought," he deadpanned. "Qualifying is not my strong suit, but I knew we had a really fast car. Honestly this is the most nervous I have been before qualifying in probably five years because I knew we had a shot at the pole."
Kenseth, who broke Kurt Busch's year-old qualifying record of 188.719, last won a race in 2009 at California.
Carl Edwards, Kenseth's teammate at Roush Fenway Racing, qualified second followed by Marcos Ambrose and Greg Biffle, another Roush driver, as Fords powered by Roush engines swept the top four spots. Ambrose drives for Richard Petty Motorsports.
Elsewhere
The Indianapolis Star reported Friday that Firestone is leaving IndyCar at the end of this season. The company has been the exclusive supplier for the series for 16 years. … Jon Fogarty earned the pole for today's Grand Prix of Miami grand-Am race at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a lap of 112.415 mph. He teams with Alex Gurney.
NHRA Gatornationals
When: Thursday-March 13
Where: Gainesville Raceway, 11211 N County Road 225
Who: Four pro classes, several other classes
Directions: Take Interstate 75 north to exit 382, turn right (east) at Williston Road (CR 331), go about 5.5 miles to Waldo Road (SR 24), continue north 4 miles, turn left onto NE 53rd Avenue then an immediate right on CR 225 (NE 39th Street), go 3.5 miles north to the track.
Tickets: From $10 daily junior general admission to $360 full-week Top Eliminator Club seats
Websites: NHRA.com or gainesvilleraceway.com
Times wires