ON THE TRACKS This weekend’s auto races

NASCAR

Blaney wins pole with 200.505 mph lap

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Clint Bowyer went more than 200 mph like polesitter Ryan Blaney during NASCAR Cup qualifying at Texas.

“It’s so hard to sit here and explain to somebody what that lap feels like, and the adjustments you have to make,” Bowyer said. “You have to be committed. You can’t just feel it out at that point.”

Blaney earned the pole Friday at 200.505 mph at the 1 1/2-mile Texas track, just ahead of Bowyer’s 200.230 mph lap that was the fastest of the eight contenders still alive in the playoff.

“Really fast lap after leaving Martinsville, of all places,” Bowyer said, referring to last week’s race at the half-mile paperclip-shaped track.

Blaney described the fast lap of just under 27 seconds as like almost holding his breath.

All four Stewart-Haas drivers were the top qualifiers among the championship contenders. Bowyer led the way, with teammates Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola in the second row. Kurt Busch, who was going for his third consecutive poll at Texas, qualified seventh.

The only non-Ford in the top seven was the No. 11 Toyota of non-playoff driver Denny Hamlin in the sixth spot.

Joey Logano, who is already locked into the season finale at Homestead after his win at Martinsville last week, qualified eighth, with Kyle Busch 10th.

Two of the playoff contenders didn’t make it into the final round of qualifying.

Martin Truex Jr, the defending Cup champion, qualified 13th and three spots ahead of Chase Elliott.

NASCAR TRUCKS

Justin Haley earns spot in championship

FORT WORTH TEXAS

Justin Haley joined teammate Johnny Sauter in the four-man field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, winning at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday night for an automatic berth.

Haley raced to his third victory of the season and second of the playoffs, taking the lead with a half-lap remaining after fellow teenager Todd Gilliland ran out of gas. Haley locked up the second spot in the Nov. 16 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a week after GMS Racing teammate Sauter took the first position by winning at Martinsville Speedway.

“That was amazing,” the 19-year-old Haley said. “I thought we had it lost there. I didn’t quite maximize my pit road (on the final green-flag stop) ... This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. To get two Chevrolets — me and Johnny — back to back to Miami, that’s what we want. We’ve got a 50-percent chance of winning it.”

Ben Rhodes was second, followed by playoff driver Brett Moffitt.

Associated Press