Kyle Busch to start first at Kentucky
Kyle Busch has a great chance to get his first win of the season.
Busch, one of three Cup drivers to win at Kentucky, will start first in Saturday night’s race at the 1.5-mile track. He beat Toyota teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Matt Kenseth, who will line up second and third. Qualifying was called after two of three scheduled rounds because of approaching severe weather.
Points leader Kyle Larson didn’t get to make a qualifying attempt because his car didn’t pass inspection in time. He’ll start last in 40th.
Busch has two wins and five top-10 finishes in six career races at the track. He won the first Cup race at the track from the pole in 2011 and also won in 2015 by leading 163 of the race’s 267 laps.
Busch is third in the points standings this season despite not winning a race. He’s a virtual lock to make NASCAR’s playoffs, but his third Kentucky win will guarantee he’s a participant for the title over the last 10 races of the season.
Here’s how the field will line up Saturday. Friday night’s Xfinity race has been postponed until Noon ET on Saturday.
1. Kyle Busch
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Jamie McMurray
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Ryan Blaney
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Jimmie Johnson
9. Daniel Suarez
10. Brad Keselowski
11. Joey Logano
12. Chase Elliott
13. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
14. Erik Jones
15. Kurt Busch
16. Clint Bowyer
17. Darrell Wallace
18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
19. Trevor Bayne
20. Danica Patrick
21. Michael McDowell
22. Chris Buescher
23. Kasey Kahne
24. Paul Menard
25. Austin Dillon
26. David Ragan
27. Ty Dillon
28. AJ Allmendinger
29. Ryan Newman
30. Matt DiBenedetto
31. Ryan Sieg
32. Cole Whitt
33. Reed Sorenson
34. Joey Gase
35. Landon Cassill
36. Jeffrey Earnhardt
37. BJ McLeod
38. Timmy Hill
39. Gray Gaulding
40. Kyle Larson
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
