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Qualifying report

Edwards edges Truex for New Hampshire pole

Carl Edwards has never won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway but he certainly has qualifying figured out.

Polesitter Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Polesitter Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Action Sports Photography

Edwards went out late in the final five-minute qualifying session and his average lap speed of 135.453 mph was good enough to hold off Martin Truex Jr. and claim his third pole at this track in the last four races.

Edwards’ career-best finish at New Hampshire in 24 races was third in 2008.

“Just these cars are great. It’s a really fun track to drive when your car’s that good,” Edwards said. “It’s just what we needed. We didn’t run well at Chicagoland, I was very frustrated. To come here and start on the pole and get a good pit stall, hopefully we can have a good race.

“We’ve had speed in qualifying but we have to turn that into a great race here. We’ve got to put (this) in Victory Lane. Anything can happen at Dover (next weekend). This is our best opportunity and I have the best team in the world to do it with.”

The pole is Edwards’ sixth of the season and 22nd of his career.

Ryan Newman ended up third-fastest, Jimmie Johnson fourth and Denny Hamlin fifth. Rounding out the top 12 were Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch.

Elliott's team picked up their fourth written warning in pre-qualifying inspection and has lost their pit stall selection for this Sunday's race.

Second round

Toyotas took three of the top-five spots in the 10-minute second qualifying session as Truex led the way with an average lap speed of 135.236 mph. Kenseth was second-fastest and Hamlin was fourth-fastest.

Larson ended up third-fastest and Johnson, who had the fewest laps on his tires through the first two rounds (two), was fifth-fastest.

Chase drivers Joey Logano (13th), Kurt Busch (14th), Kevin Harvick (19th) and Tony Stewart (22nd) all failed to advance to the final round.

“It’s been a tough place for us to qualify,” said Logano, who hasn’t finished worse than fourth in his last four races at New Hampshire. “We’ve not been able to maintain speed with the field in the second round.”

The rest of the drivers who advanced to the final round: Edwards, Elliott, McMurray, Kahne, Kyle Busch, Keselowski and Newman.

First round

Edwards led the way in the first 20-minute qualifying session as JGR drivers claimed three of the top-five spots. Kyle Busch was fourth-fastest and Hamlin was fifth.

Larson, who was fastest in Friday’s practice session, ended up second-fastest and Elliott was third.

Two drivers in the Chase, Austin Dillon and Chris Buescher, failed to advance out of the first round. Dillon will start 29th and Buescher 28th.

“We’ve got to work on it. We’ve got to work hard has a team and not give up on it,” Dillon said. “We’ve got two practices tomorrow to get ready for the race on Sunday.”

The start of the session began with almost a dozen cars having not yet passed pre-qualifying inspection, with most having issues clearing the Laser Inspection Station.

While NASCAR relaxed the tolerances for failing LIS postrace, its tolerances remain the same for pre-qualifying and pre-race inspection.

While many of the teams argued for a delay in the start of qualifying, NASCAR held firm.

“It’s not our process that’s pushing the envelope,” said NASCAR vice president of competition, Scott Miller.

A spin by Clint Bowyer during the session brought out a caution to briefly stop the clock, which probably helped several teams get out on the track in time to make a lap.

Biffle was the last of the Chase drivers to take to the track with just over five minutes remaining in the session. Regan Smith was the last driver to clear inspection and will line up 30th.

“Last time we were here it was the same way – kind of,” Biffle told Motorsport.com before his No. 16 Ford cleared the LIS. “I drove out of here and went right onto the track. I don’t know what it is about the places. It’s difficult. I don’t know if suspensions are different here or it’s different tolerances. I don’t really know why so many guys have issues here. I really don’t.

“It’s frustrating. We need to get a lap in. We feel we’re good enough to make the second round, for sure. It’s tough. There’s a lot of guys back here (in the garage).”

Cla#DriverManufacturerTimeGapMph
1 19  Carl Edwards  Toyota 28.119   135.453
2 78  Martin Truex Jr.  Toyota 28.169 0.050 135.212
3 31  Ryan Newman  Chevrolet 28.235 0.116 134.896
4 48  Jimmie Johnson  Chevrolet 28.243 0.124 134.858
5 11  Denny Hamlin  Toyota 28.256 0.137 134.796
6 42  Kyle Larson  Chevrolet 28.280 0.161 134.682
7 1  Jamie McMurray  Chevrolet 28.323 0.204 134.477
8 20  Matt Kenseth  Toyota 28.347 0.228 134.363
9 5  Kasey Kahne  Chevrolet 28.377 0.258 134.221
10 24  Chase Elliott  Chevrolet 28.445 0.326 133.901

CLICK HERE for complete starting lineup

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