NASCAR New Hampshire 2014 qualifying results: Brad Keselowski continues roll, captures pole

Picking up where he left off in July and breaking the track record with a lap of 140.598 miles per hour, Brad Keselowski sped to the pole in qualifying Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The pole continues Keselowski’s recent run of dominance. He won the last two races, including the Chase for the Sprint Cup opener a week ago at Chicagoland Speedway, and is the current series points leader.

“[New Hampshire’s] always been one of my favorite tracks,” Keselowski said. “But this one is a little extra special with everything that’s going on and going through the Chase and what not. I’m ready to get running tomorrow, and hopefully we’ll get another win.”

Keselowski won the July New Hampshire race from the seventh position, leading 138 of 305 laps. That performance prompted Jimmie Johnson to tab Keselowski the favorite for Sunday’s Sylvania 300.

New Hampshire was Keselowski’s fifth pole of the season and the 12th time he’s started on the front row start. Two of Keselowski’s five wins in 2014 have come from the pole (Kentucky, Richmond).

“I try not to get caught up in statements, I’m just trying to go out there and do our job,” Keselowski said. “The Penske team has done phenomenal this season and it’s great to keep it rolling.”

Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick qualified second and third, respectively. Denny Hamlin will start fourth, followed by Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and Kyle Larson.

Of the top 10 qualifiers, only McMurray and Larson are the drivers not playoff eligible. New Hampshire is the second of 10 Chase races.

“The No. 2 car [Keselowski] has been fast all year long,” Larson said. “He was amazing fast here the first race. I don’t know. I don’t think anybody has anything for Brad. It’s pretty amazing how fast he is right now at pretty much every race track we go to. Hopefully we are the guys that can stop him this weekend, but it will be really tough.”

No drivers failed to qualify. All 43 entrants will race Sunday.

Sylvania 300 starting lineup