NASCAR Pocono 2016 qualifying results: Brad Keselowski leads Team Penske front row sweep

Team Penske swept the front row in Sprint Cup qualifying Friday at Pocono Raceway, with Brad Keselowski on the pole and Joey Logano second for Sunday’s Axalta 400.

After rain and fog delayed the start of qualifying, Logano asserted himself as the pole favorite laying down the fastest lap in both the first and second sessions. He did the same in the third and final round of the knockout format, but in the closing seconds Keselowski’s lap (181.726 mph) surpassed that of Logano (181.400 mph).

The pole is Keselowski’s first of the season and 12th of his career. The 1-2 effort gave Penske its first front row qualifying sweep since 2014 at Kentucky Speedway, a race Keselowski went on to win. Logano finished ninth that night.

“It’s really cool for Team Penske to be on the front row one and two,” Keselowski said.

For Logano, coming close to his second pole of 2016 but losing out is a familiar feeling. He posted the fastest speeds in each of the first two rounds a week ago at Charlotte Motor Speedway, only to see Martin Truex Jr. eclipse him in the final session.

“We were so close,” Logano said. “The last two weeks we have been the fastest car in the first two rounds and given it up in the third. You want to get those poles. The pole means a lot and it is cool to rack up that stat, but overall both Team Penske Fusions are up front and that says a lot about where our organization is right now.

“Man, I just wanted to get the pole. It stings but it’s cool we are up front.”

Matt Kenseth of Joe Gibbs Racing and Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing qualified third and fourth, respectively. Kenseth’s teammate Carl Edwards starts fifth.

Tony Stewart qualified a season-best sixth, followed by Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin in positions seven through 10.

Truex, dominant in winning last week at Charlotte and also the defending Pocono winner, struggled in qualifying and will start 17th. He led a NASCAR-record 588 miles of 600 in taking the victory at Charlotte.

“You always like to start up front at tracks like this, but we’ll be fine,” Truex said. “We’ll get to work (Saturday). I know our car will be fast.

All 40 drivers who entered qualified for Sunday’s race, the 14th of 26 regular season events.

Axalta 400 starting lineup