Keselowski tames Monster for FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks pole

While everybody sat waiting for the track to be cool and in the shade, Brad Keselowski timed it right as he was the first driver to hit hte rack in the final round. It paid off as Keselowski lapped the track with a lap of 21.892 seconds, 164.444 mph for a new track record and to score the pole for the 45th Annual FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks pole. It marks Keselowski’s fifth career pole award and second pole of the season.

“I just got bored. I’m like Bowyer when he takes his Five Hour Energy – I get anxious and jittery,” Keselowski commented. “I just wanted to get out there.”

Kyle Busch, who led practice today, would qualify second after posting the quickest time in the first round.

“Just the 2 and 22 always seem to go quicker on their second runs and we just beat by speed there,” Busch commented. “The car has been fast throughout practice so I think we’ll be able to be quick all day on Sunday.”

Joey Logano qualified third, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson.

“A little bit of a shake in the shifter handle, which is kind of common. We know how to fix that issue,” Johnson said. “That very last lap, I got loose there and I know it dragged some speed out of the car. Still, a good solid effort by everyone and a good qualifying spot.”

Jeff Gordon qualified sixth, followed by Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Brian Vickers, Clint Bowyer, AJ Allmendinger and Greg Biffle. Dale Earnhardt Jr. would qualify 13th after missing the top-12 by two-hundreths of a second.

“We were real tight,” Earnhardt said. “I didn’t feel we got through one and two either. We were happy with the car and freed the car up, just not enough. Not a bad qualifying spot – it’s a little improvement for us.”

Surprisingly, Carl Edwards would qualify 29th after posting the third quickest lap in practice.