Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has won the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway.
With his fast lap of 176.916 mph, Stenhouse Jr. captured his seventh career pole in the Nationwide Series and the third of the 2012 season for the Mississippi driver.
Stenhouse Jr. took over the top spot of the qualifying session with 11 cars remaining. From there, the 2011 Nationwide Series champion withstood challenges from Sam Hornish Jr., Austin Dillon and others to win the pole.
Dillon, who’s a past Chicagoland Speedway winner after winning last season’s Camping World Truck race, will start second for this afternoon’s race.
Danica Patrick and Parker Kligerman, who were the two fastest cars in yesterday’s final practice session, qualified thirteenth and fifth respectfully.
Today’s front-row-starters are made up with two of the Nationwide “Dash For Cash” drivers.
Sam Hornish Jr., who is also part of the Dash For Cash program, will start today’s 300-mile race from the third position, while Elliott Sadler will start fifteenth after handling issues in qualifying hampered his run at the pole.
With only 43 cars attempting the race this weekend, every car that took time during qualifying will take the green flag later this afternoon.
STP 300 Starting Lineup:
1: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2: Austin Dillon
3: Sam Hornish Jr.
4: Kyle Busch
5: Parker Kligerman
6: Brian Scott
7: Mike Bliss
8: Cole Whitt
9: Ryan Truex
10: Brendan Gaughan
11: Kenny Wallace
12: Johanna Long
13: Danica Patrick
14: Michael Annett
15: Elliott Sadler
16: Justin Allgaier
17: Jason Bowles
18: James Buescher
19: Eric McClure
20: Jamie Dick
21: Brad Sweet
22: Joe Nemechek
23: Jeff Green
24: Mike Wallace
25: Timmy Hill
26: Erik Darnell
27: Jeremy Clements
28: Josh Richards
29: Blake Koch
30: Tayler Malsam
31: Stephen Leicht
32: Travis Pastrana
33: Danny Efland
34: Chase Miller
35: Tanner Berryhill
36: Benny Gordon
37: Tim Schendel
38: TJ Bell
39: Tim Andrews
40: Matt Carter
41: Morgan Shepard
42: Mike Harmon
43: Carl Long
