NASCAR Sprint Showdown 2015 qualifying results: Paul Menard takes the pole

Paul Menard and the No. 27 car will be on the pole Friday night for the Sprint Showdown, which will help determine the field for Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race. Menard clocked a speed of 189.673 mph to earn the honors. Greg Biffle will join him on the front row after recording a 189.660 speed.

Qualifying was done in two segments, and Biffle actually had the faster speed on the first segment. But the outcome of the second segment was used to determine spots 1-12 on the grid.

Seventeen drivers have already qualified for the All-Star Race, which is again being held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Three spots remain, and two of them will be filled Friday night through the Sprint Showdown. Two 20-lap segments will be run, with the winner of each segment qualifying to race Saturday. The winner of the first segment will start in the 19th spot -- the 10th row -- while the winner of the second segment will start in the 18th spot. The 20th spot is determined by the winner of the fan vote, which will be announced in Victory Lane following the Showdown.

Automatic qualifications went to 14 drivers who won races in 2014 or ‘15, one past Sprint Cup champion and two former All-Star Race victors.

The Sprint Showdown features a number of interesting drivers trying to advance to the All-Star Race. Clint Bowyer (188.298 mph qualifying) starts on Row 2, with young drivers Austin Dillon (188.173) and Kyle Larson (188.101) on the third row. Danica Patrick starts on Row 4 after qualifying at 187.196.

Coverage of the Sprint Showdown is set for 7 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, with the racing beginning around 7:15 p.m.