NASCAR Michigan 2016 qualifying results: Joey Logano leads the way, Jimmie Johnson 2nd

Joey Logano will go for a second consecutive Michigan International Speedway victory from the most advantageous starting position at the 2-mile track, having captured the pole with an average speed of 201.698 mph in qualifying on Friday.

Logano won from the No. 1 spot in the June Michigan race, a common occurrence where qualifying well has historically led to success on race day. Twenty times the pole winner has gone on to win at Michigan, making it the most prolific position. Three of the past six races here -- including Logano’s June victory -- have been won by the pole-sitter. (Logano also won from the pole at Michigan in 2013.)

“Obviously starting up front here is an advantage for sure when you talk about track position and safety on restarts being how crazy it is with the low downforce package on restarts,” Logano said. “Having the first pit stall is probably the most important of all that. The first pit stall is one of the only good ones on pit road here. Having that one really helps us keep track position throughout the day.”

Jimmie Johnson (201.523 mph) qualified second, followed by Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and rookie Chase Elliott. Alex Bowman, rookie Ryan Blaney, Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman completed the top 10.

Bowman’s sixth-place effort represents a career-best, topping his previous best qualification of 14th at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2014. The 23-year-old is substituting this weekend for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who remains sidelined due to a concussion sustained when he crashed during the June Michigan race. Earnhardt has missed the previous five races, and will sit out Sunday and next week at Darlington Raceway.

“I’m just glad to be here,” Bowman said. “Hopefully it opens some eyes and I can get a job or something for next year because having a day job isn’t much fun, but I’m just happy to be here.”

All 40 drivers who entered qualified, though rookie Jeffrey Earnhardt did not post a time after crashing in practice earlier Friday. He will start 40th on Sunday.

Pure Michigan 400 starting lineup