Saturday, June 11, 2011

Three straight poles for Penske Racing

     LONG POND, Pa. - Is the key to qualifying well spinning out in practice?

    Kurt Busch seems to be setting a trend. For the second consecutive week, Busch spun in practice on Friday and ended up winning the pole during Saturday qualifying.

    Busch’s lap at 171.578 mph was good enough to hold off Paul Menard for his second pole this season and first at Pocono Raceway in Sunday's 5-Hour Energy 500.

    “To go out there today, if it was raining, we’d be starting last in a backup car. Instead, we’re starting on the pole,” Busch said.

    “It’s a matter of knowing where the edge is and not stepping over it. It bit me. But today I went right back out there to get after it.”
    Sunday’s race will also mark the third straight week a Penske Racing driver has started the Cup race from the pole. Busch started from the pole last week and his teammate Brad Keselowski won the pole at Charlotte.

   Jeff Gordon qualified third, Denny Hamlin third and Regan Smith fifth.