Busch remains perfect at WGI with third pole
By NASCAR.COM
August 13, 2011 2:33 PM, EDT
August 13, 2011 2:33 PM, EDT
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Kurt Busch wasn't planning on running the Zippo 200 Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen, but now that he is in the No. 22 Penske Racing Dodge for injured teammate Brad Keselowski, Busch is making the most of it.
With a blistering lap of 123.241 mph at the 2.45-mile road course, Busch grabbed the pole for Saturday's race -- his first in the Nationwide Series since 2007.
Busch's last Nationwide start came, coincidently, at Watkins Glen where he started from the pole and finished third. In Busch's other start at Watkins Glen in 2006, he drove to Victory Lane after starting from the P1 position.
Busch's brother, Kyle, will start on the outside of Row 1 thanks to a lap of 122.970 mph. Carl Edwards, Elliott Sadler and Ron Fellows round out the top five.
Jimmie Johnson will roll off sixth in his first Nationwide start since 2008. Points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will start 12th.
Five drivers failed to make the 43-car field: Chase Miler, Brian Keselowski, Tomy Drissi, Brian Simo and Tim Andrews.
Zippo 200 at the Glen: Race Lineup | Practice Speeds
Notes-n-Nuggets
| • Kurt Busch earns his third Nationwide pole in his 12th start; all three poles came at WGI ('06, '07, '11). |
| • Kurt Busch becomes the 11th different driver to win a pole in 2011. |
| • Saturday marks the third pole for Penske Racing in 2011, all of them coming in the past five races. |
| • Kyle Busch (second) earns his best Nationwide road-course start in his eighth race. |
| • Carl Edwards (third) earns his best Watkins Glen start in his seventh race. |
| • Elliott Sadler (fourth) earns his best road-course start in his fifth race. |
| • Ron Fellows (fifth) started in the top-five in seven of his 11 Nationwide starts at Watkins Glen. |
| • Jimmie Johnson (sixth) ia making his first Nationwide start since 2008. |
| • The top three drivers in qualifying posted times faster than the previous track record. |
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