Chase Elliott wins Dover pole with track record lap
Chase Elliott isn’t leaving the front row anytime soon.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro NAPA Brakes
John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
One week after earning his first win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this season, Elliott won the pole for Sunday’s Gander RV 400 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway with a new track qualifying record.
Elliott’s lap at 165.960 mph topped his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron (165.555 mph). Kyle Larson was third (165.464 mph) as Chevrolet swept the top three positions.
The pole is Elliott’s second of the season and sixth of his career.
“Team Hendrick is 1-2, which is awesome. Thanks to Chevrolet power and everybody that contributes to our car, they’ve been working hard,” Elliott said. “Hopefully, we can back it up on Sunday.
“It’s going to be a really tough race so you better eat your Wheaties these next couple days and hydrate because I think Sunday is going to be tough, especially if the sun’s out like it is right now.
“Thanks to all my guys. The No. 9 team has been working really hard and all of our group. We have a good group, we just have to keep after it and hopefully we stay where we start on Sunday.”
Earlier Friday, 23 cars eclipsed the track record in practice. But with temperatures at least 12 degrees warmer during qualifying, only the top five ended up topped the old mark of 164.444 mph set by Brad Keselowski in 2014.
“Little tight in (Turns) 1 and 2 ... wasn’t perfect,” Elliott said on his team radio after his qualifying attempt.
Joey Logano was fourth and Alex Bowman completed the top-five.
Rounding out the top 10 starters are Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Denny Hamlin, Keselowski and Clint Bowyer.
Kurt Busch, who was fastest in Friday’s practice, will line up 19th.
Prior to qualifying, the car chief of Aric Almirola’s No. 10 Ford was ejected for the weekend after his car twice failed pre-qualifying inspection.
Cla | # | Driver | Manufacturer | Time | Gap | Mph | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Chevrolet | 21.692 | 165.960 | ||
2 | 24 | William Byron | Chevrolet | 21.745 | 0.053 | 165.555 | |
3 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet | 21.757 | 0.065 | 165.464 | |
4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Ford | 21.855 | 0.163 | 164.722 | |
5 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Chevrolet | 21.857 | 0.165 | 164.707 | |
6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Ford | 21.907 | 0.215 | 164.331 | |
7 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 21.918 | 0.226 | 164.249 | |
8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 21.931 | 0.239 | 164.151 | |
9 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Ford | 21.936 | 0.244 | 164.114 | |
10 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Ford | 21.949 | 0.257 | 164.017 | |
11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Ford | 22.008 | 0.316 | 163.577 | |
12 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 22.039 | 0.347 | 163.347 | |
13 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 22.055 | 0.363 | 163.228 | |
14 | 41 | Daniel Suarez | Ford | 22.073 | 0.381 | 163.095 | |
15 | 20 | Erik Jones | Toyota | 22.086 | 0.394 | 162.999 | |
16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Chevrolet | 22.090 | 0.398 | 162.970 | |
17 | 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Toyota | 22.108 | 0.416 | 162.837 | |
18 | 21 | Paul Menard | Ford | 22.136 | 0.444 | 162.631 | |
19 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chevrolet | 22.140 | 0.448 | 162.602 | |
20 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | 22.152 | 0.460 | 162.514 | |
21 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Ford | 22.176 | 0.484 | 162.338 | |
22 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 22.233 | 0.541 | 161.921 | |
23 | 8 | Daniel Hemric | Chevrolet | 22.267 | 0.575 | 161.674 | |
24 | 38 | David Ragan | Ford | 22.317 | 0.625 | 161.312 | |
25 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Chevrolet | 22.325 | 0.633 | 161.254 | |
26 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Ford | 22.326 | 0.634 | 161.247 | |
27 | 43 | Darrell Wallace Jr. | Chevrolet | 22.419 | 0.727 | 160.578 | |
28 | 32 | Corey Lajoie | Ford | 22.572 | 0.880 | 159.490 | |
29 | 47 | Ryan Preece | Chevrolet | 22.698 | 1.006 | 158.604 | |
30 | 37 | Chris Buescher | Chevrolet | 22.829 | 1.137 | 157.694 | |
31 | 00 | Landon Cassill | Chevrolet | 22.948 | 1.256 | 156.876 | |
32 | 36 | Matt Tifft | Ford | 23.132 | 1.440 | 155.629 | |
33 | 51 | Cody Ware | Ford | 23.369 | 1.677 | 154.050 | |
34 | 52 | B.J. McLeod | Chevrolet | 23.384 | 1.692 | 153.951 | |
35 | 77 | Quin Houff | Chevrolet | 23.465 | 1.773 | 153.420 | |
36 | 15 | Ross Chastain | Chevrolet | ||||
37 | 27 | Reed Sorenson | Chevrolet |
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