Kansas City, Kan. – If Chris Buescher was not tired of Kyle Larson after last year’s record last year at Kansas Speedway, he should certainly be after Saturday’s qualification session on the 1.5 mile track.
Making what he called “a perfect lap”, Larson – the last driver to race during the time trials – eliminated Buescher from the provisional post for Advent Health 400 on Sunday (3 p.m. He on FS1, MRN and Siriusxm Nascar Radio).
Larson burned the intermediate speedway with a round at 183,730 MPH (29.391 seconds), beating Buescher (183.374 MPH) for the upper departure square of 0.057 seconds. It was a much broader, relatively speaking margin that the tearing advantage of 0.001 seconds that Larson held on the pilot of Roush Fenway Keselowski at the end of last year’s spring race in Kansas.
The Busch Light Pole Award was the first of Larson’s season, his first in Kansas and the 22nd of his career. The post is the 14th in Kansas for Chevrolet and the seventh this season for the automaker.
“The qualification lap was really good,” said Larson. “You look at SMT (data), and you can see that the drivers are starting to hold the large or open in (turns) 1 and 2. In (shots) 3 and 4, some guys would have tightened.
“Buescher managed to execute a good 3 and 4. I had a plan on the line that I wanted to run and I just try to match it with the accelerator, and fortunately, everything went well. My balance was really good, I felt like I hit my marks and that I arrived at speed through 3 and 4 well, so it was a perfect turn.”
During the race last spring, Larson jumped forward on arrival to lead Buescher less than 4 inches. The fact that Buescher was again the victim of the speed of the number 5 of Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was not lost for the winner of the pole.
“It’s really ironic and really cool,” said Larson. “I think it adds to the story of what happened last year and probably strengthens anticipation for the race (Sunday). I will not think about it, I suppose, when we drive under caution, but, yes, it’s ironic and funny and cool at the same time.”
Christopher Bell (183,268 MPH) was the fastest in the time trial, falling two positions in less from his fourth Speedway Kansas consecutive.
Tyler Reddick qualified fourth at 183.150 MPH, followed by the Texas winner last Sunday, Joey Logano, at 182,871 MPH.
Ty Gibbs, William Byron, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney will begin the sixth at the 10th respectively.
Kyle Busch and Josh Berry both struck the outside wall during their qualification towers and will start the 35th and 38th of the Sunday race.
– By Reid Spencer, NASCAR wire service. Special media in terms of field.
