Two days after NASCAR disallowed his pole award from Kansas, Matt Kenseth responded in the best way possible.
NASCAR Richmond 2013 qualifying results: Kenseth wins pole amid controversy
In a week filled with controversy, Matt Kenseth won the pole in NASCAR qualifying Friday at Richmond.
Robert Laberge
With a lap that broke the previous track-record, Kenseth topped 42 other drivers Friday to win the pole for Saturday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
In a way it was almost poetic justice following NASCAR’s decision to impose major sanctions on the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team for having an illegal engine part.
For Kenseth, more than anything, it was welcome news after a week which started out promising with a victory at Kansas turned sour with Wednesday’s announcement that he was docked 50 points. Crew chief Jason Ratcliff was fined $200,000 and suspended six point races in addition to numerous other penalties.
Kenseth will share the front row with his JGR teammate Brian Vickers, who held the track record before Kenseth’s pole-winning run Friday. Vickers is filling in for an injured Denny Hamlin, who is still recuperating from a back injury suffered March 24.
Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five qualifiers.
Having won the previous four Richmond spring races, the third JGR car driven by Kyle Busch entered the weekend as the prohibitive favorite. He did nothing to dispel that belief in qualifying, posting the eighth-fastest time in time trials.
Complete Toyota Owners 400 Starting Lineup:
1) Matt Kenseth
2) Brian Vickers
3) Jeff Gordon
4) Kasey Kahne
5) Clint Bowyer
6) Juan Pablo Montoya
7) Joey Logano
8) Kyle Busch
9) Martin Truex Jr.
10) Mark Martin
11) Marcos Ambrose
12) Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
13) Jamie McMurray
14) Kurt Busch
15) Ryan Newman
16) Jeff Burton
17) Kevin Harvick
18) Dave Blaney
19) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
20) David Ragan
21) Tony Stewart
22) David Reutimann
23) Brad Keselowski
24) AJ Allmendinger
25) David Stremme
26) Jimmie Johnson
27) Josh Wise
28) Carl Edwards
29) Paul Menard
30) Danica Patrick
31) Landon Cassill
32) Bobby Labonte
33) Greg Biffle
34) Aric Almirola
35) Michael McDowell
36) Travis Kvapil
37) David Gilliland
38) Mike Bliss
39) JJ Yeley
40) Casey Mears
41) Joe Nemechek
42) Timmy Hill
43) Brian Keselowski
See More:
