Chip Ganassi Racing led the way in Monster Energy Cup Series qualifying Saturday at Sonoma Raceway, with Kyle Larson edging teammate Jamie McMurray to earn the pole for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350.
NASCAR Sonoma 2017 qualifying results: Chip Ganassi Racing sweeps front row
Teammates Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray will start first and second in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350.
Larson posted an average lap of 95.295 mph around the 11-turn, 1.99-mile road course to take the pole for a second straight week and third of the season. McMurray recorded a 95.204 mph lap. Sonoma is the first road course of the 2017 season, and one of only two on the Cup schedule.
“Anytime I get a pole it’s cool because I haven’t had many of them in my career, but definitely here at Sonoma,” said Larson, a native of nearby Elk Grove, Calif. “This is probably one of my most special poles because it is home for me and it’s a road course, too.
“I didn’t run a road course race until 2013, that was my first time ever on a road course in a real car. So, yeah, I feel like I’ve come a long way at it and worked hard at it too. I struggled in the beginning parts of it and have gotten better. This one is definitely satisfying.”
In both prior instances Larson has started on the pole in 2017, he’s gone on to win the race -- at Auto Club Speedway in March, and last week at Michigan International Speedway. The 24-year-old is enjoying a breakout season that has him atop the points standings by five over second-place Martin Truex Jr., who qualified third Sunday.
“I think about it every day about how much fun it is and how cool it is to be running good,” Larson said. “I just hope we can continue the success and keep it going. It’s already a record year for me, but to build on what we have and make it even better.”
Kyle Busch qualified fourth, with A.J. Allmendinger in fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Danica Patrick, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Patrick’s sixth-place effort represents her best since August 2014 when she qualified 10th at Pocono Raceway.
All 38 drivers entered will start Sunday’s race.
Matt Kenseth, who had to make an engine change Friday and would’ve had to fall to the rear of the field regardless of where he qualified, did not complete a lap on Saturday.
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