Busch on pole after rain cancels Michigan qualifying

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Rain cancelled qualifying Friday for the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway, forcing the field to be set by NASCAR's rulebook and thus allowing Sprint Cup points leader Kyle Busch to start from the pole position for the third time this season.

It may have been a blessing for Busch, who was 27th in practice, 3.1 mph slower than pacesetter Jimmie Johnson. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver likes where he's starting, considering his struggles in the practice session.

Lifelock 400

Race Lineup

Pos.	Driver	Make
1.	Kyle Busch	Toyota
2.	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet
3.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet
4.	Carl Edwards	Ford
5.	Denny Hamlin	Toyota
6.	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
7.	Greg Biffle	Ford
8.	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
9.	Kasey Kahne	Dodge
10.	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet

• Lineup | Central | Photos

"We weren't all that happy with the car," Busch said. "With what we've seen the last few weeks with guys starting up front, it should pay dividends. We can get those five bonus points for leading."

Busch would take particular pride in winning for Toyota at MIS, the home track for Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford.

"That would be pretty awesome," Busch said. "It would definitely be pretty cool to not only just win here because we want to get another win, but to win in a manufacturer's backyard is pretty cool. I'm not sure yet that we're the car to be able to do that. I think there are some other guys that are better than us and we'll try to catch up to them and see what we can learn [Saturday, in practice]."

The 23-year-old Busch is, for the second consecutive weekend, driving in all three of NASCAR's national series. The rain gave him the rest of Friday off after practicing for the Cup and Craftsman Truck Series at MIS. He had been scheduled make the one-hour flight to Kentucky Speedway to practice for the Nationwide Series race, but that session was rained out. He'll race in the CTS race Saturday afternoon and the Nationwide race that evening, then return to MIS for the 400-mile Cup race Sunday.

Busch has 10 wins combined in NASCAR this year, but didn't add to his total last weekend. Four of his victories have been in Cup.

"There's a lot of guys that want me to drive their stuff, and that's really flattering and pleasing to me because I love racing as much as I am," Busch said. "Still, the focus needs to be on the Cup effort."

Jeff Burton's Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet will start on the outside of the front row, with Dale Earnhardt Jr's Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Carl Edwards' Roush Fenway Ford on the second row.

"The starting position is not the key here," Edwards said. "But you definitely always want to start up front."

Jason Leffler, in the Haas CNC Racing No. 70 Chevrolet, and Tony Raines, in the Bob Jenkins-owned No. 34 Chevrolet, did not qualify.