By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer
CONCORD, N.C. – Starting position is key for any race at Charlotte Motor Speedway as 76.5% of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won by drivers starting in the Top 10. Starting position is even more important during a Chase race, like the Bank of America 500.
Kevin Harvick qualified his No. 4 Busch Hunting Chevrolet SS won the pole for Saturday night’s race. Harvick’s 196.029 MPH, 27.547 second lap was just barely enough to edge out Alex Bowman, who continues to sub for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet SS, for the pole. Bowman missed getting his first career pole by just 0.004 seconds.
Harvick was confident his starting spot would be an advantage.
“Any time you can eliminate track position it is definitely a bonus,” Harvick said.
“I just got to the green a little bit better. The car was too loose the time before. It was good in (Turns) 1 and 2; but I felt like I gave up a little something in (Turns) 3 and 4 coming to the checkered. But, I’ve just got to thank all my sponsors and everybody on this team, Chevrolet and Hendrick engines and chassis for everything that they do and for everything that Stewart-Haas does.
“This has just been a fun car to drive today. Hopefully we can get it dialed in race trim.”
This is Harvick’s 16th career pole in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It is also his first career pole this season, and 10th pole position since he joined Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014.
Harvick started from pole at Chicagoland Speedway in 2015, but it was due to qualifying having been rained out and the starting grid was based on points. However, the last time Harvick qualified on the pole on speed was the spring 2015 race at Phoenix International Raceway, a race he went on to win.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying – Bank of America 500
1. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 196.029 mph.
2. (88) Alex Bowman(i), Chevrolet, 196.000 mph.
3. (24) Chase Elliott #, Chevrolet, 195.759 mph.
4. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 195.228 mph.
5. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 195.228 mph.
6. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 195.087 mph.
7. (78) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, 194.826 mph.
8. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 194.553 mph.
9. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 194.168 mph.
10. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 194.049 mph.
11. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 192.630 mph.
12. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 188.547 mph.
13. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 194.161 mph.
14. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 194.007 mph.
15. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford, 193.966 mph.
16. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 193.868 mph.
17. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 193.791 mph.
18. (21) Ryan Blaney #, Ford, 193.736 mph.
19. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 193.722 mph.
20. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 193.625 mph.
21. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 193.209 mph.
22. (95) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 193.009 mph.
23. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 192.205 mph.
24. (83) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 191.489 mph.
25. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 191.980 mph.
26. (34) Chris Buescher #, Ford, 191.829 mph.
27. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 191.544 mph.
28. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 191.530 mph.
29. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 191.469 mph.
30. (44) Brian Scott #, Ford, 191.381 mph.
31. (15) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 190.954 mph.
32. (38) Landon Cassill, Ford, 190.617 mph.
33. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 190.564 mph.
34. (23) David Ragan, Toyota, 190.054 mph.
35. (7) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 188.864 mph.
36. (98) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 186.002 mph.
37. (46) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 185.976 mph.
38. (32) Jeffrey Earnhardt #, Ford, 185.039 mph.
39. (55) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 183.673 mph.
40. (30) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 183.343 mph.
