NASCAR Michigan 2016 qualifying results: Joey Logano wins 2nd pole of season

After back-to-back weeks where Joey Logano fell just short of the No. 1 starting position, the Team Penske driver came through in qualifying Friday, winning the pole for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Logano’s lap of 199.557 mph gave him his second pole of the season and followed consecutive second-place qualifying efforts at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway. Martin Truex Jr. (199.016) starts second, with Tony Stewart (198.950) a season-best third.

“The last couple [weeks] have stung,” Logano said. “We won the first two rounds and then came in second in the last one. We have been winning the same amount of rounds, just this time it was the right one.”

Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney completed the top-five qualifiers. Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott rounded out the top 10.

Kurt Busch, who won Monday at Pocono and is the defending Michigan winner, posted the 17th-fastest speed.

The first session of the three-round knockout format was slowed by two cautions, one for debris and the other for David Ragan’s single-car accident. Ragan got loose entering Turn 3 and slid up into the outside wall.

Both stoppages hindered Kevin Harvick, who was on the track trying to record an official time but couldn’t complete a lap in either instance. He eventually was able to make a third attempt, but because of worn tires he couldn’t qualify higher than 29th.

“There’s really not much you can do about that,” Harvick said.

All 40 drivers who entered qualified for Sunday’s race.

FireKeepers Casino 400 starting lineup