ExtenZe Racing Kobalt Tools 500 Qualifying Recap

Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile Speedway, Hampton, Georgia

Pole Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Pole Time: 28.761 seconds

Pole Speed: 192.761 miles per hour

TV/Radio: SPEED/PRN/SIRIUS/XM

 No. 37 ExtenZe Racing Ford Team Qualifying Position: 45

Notes: 

Speeds at the Atlanta Motor Speedway are always some of the fastest the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars reach each season.  Friday night, during qualifying for Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500, the track produced some of the highest speeds that new cars have ever seen.  NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhrast Jr., posted a speed over 190 miles per hour to win the pole for Sunday’s 500-miler.  He was one of 22 drivers to average a lap over 190 miles per hour.

Earnhardt Jr. will share the front row with Kyle Busch.  Three drivers not making the field were Aric Almirola, Casey Mears and Terry Cook. 

Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing worked hard during the afternoon practice session.  David Gilliland and the No. 38 Charter Air Transport/Taco Bell Ford were near the top-25 in the session while Kvapil and Conway worked on their cars handling.  Gilliland proved the best in qualifying while Kvapil and Conway weren’t as comfortable as they had hoped.  They now turn their attention to Saturday’s final practice session and Sunday’s race.

Comments from ExtenZe Racing Ford Team Driver Kevin Conway after qualifying:

“We had to bring out the ExtenZe Ford Fusion pretty early tonight. The sun was setting and that was a nightmare for all the guys that went early.  The track conditions didn’t help.

We were pretty fast, but not as good as we needed to be.  I had to lift to keep the car turning and be smooth.  You never want to lift here at Atlanta and that’s what we had to do.”