Logano leads the way in record Pocono qualifying


Associated Press

LONG POND, PA.

Thanks to a repave that led to blistering speeds, Pocono Raceway’s track record was topped 36 times.

Joey Logano had the fastest speed of them all.

Logano turned a lap of 179.598 mph on Saturday to set the track record during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono. Logano won his first pole of the season and fourth in 125 career Sprint Cup starts.

He drove the No. 20 Toyota around the 21/2-mile track in 50.112 seconds.

“It’s cool to get a pole here,” Logano said. “A new track record, too.”

Logano went out 18th out of 44 cars and waited for about 45 minutes until the final qualifying lap was turned and he could celebrate. Kasey Kahne held the record of 172.533 mph set on June 11, 2004. Consider this: Kahne starts 10th today and went 177.823 mph.

Carl Edwards joins Logano on the front row for Sunday’s 400-mile race. Paul Menard, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Joe Gibbs Racing put Logano, Busch and Hamlin in the top five.

Drivers have raved about a repave that points leader Greg Biffle said was “glass smooth at 200 mph.”

Pocono had absorbed decades of criticism from drivers who said the race was too long, outdated, and unsafe. Pocono cut the two Cup races to 400 miles this season and recent safety upgrades have drivers suddenly raving about the track.

Mark Martin is sixth, Regan Smith seventh, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Marcos Ambrose and Kahne complete the top 10.

“We’ve been here for four days and everybody’s tails is whupped and everybody is about tired of each other,” Earnhardt said. “But we’re trying to do the best we can.

“I feel good about our car. We’re just ready to get the race started and we’re ready to race since we’ve been here so long. It’s been a lot longer than necessary to get ready for this race.”

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