Kyle, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series points leader, turned a lap of 14.895 seconds in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, just nipping Kurt’s time of 14.897 seconds.
NASCAR AT BRISTOL: Live updates, results from the Food City 500
It’s Kyle Busch’s 29th career pole, and his second of the season. It also marks the third time the Busch brothers have started 1-2 in a NASCAR Cup race. Kyle sat on the pole the two previous times as well.
“He always told everyone if you think I’m good, just wait until you see my younger brother,” Kyle Busch joked with FS1 afterward. “It’s nice to come out here and grab a front-row starting spot.”
Kurt Busch knew exactly where he lost the pole.
“I missed it a little bit in Turn 1, got greedy and it washed up just a little bit,” Kurt Busch told FS1. “Two Busches on the front row, that’s not too bad.”
Kevin Harvick, who leads the NASCAR Cup series with three victories this season, crashed in practice earlier in the day and had to go to a backup car. He did not turn a qualifying lap and will start 39th — where he would have started regardless of how he qualified because he is driving a backup car.
Brad Keselowski qualified third, followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Blaney.
The Food City 500 begins Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox.
Starting lineup for the Food City 500
- Kyle Busch 2. Kurt Busch 3. Brad Keselowski 4. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 5. Ryan Blaney 6. Kyle Larson 7. Paul Menard 8. Alex Bowman 9. Michael McDowell 10. Joey Logano 11. William Byron 12. Daniel Suarez 13. Erik Jones 14. Clint Bowyer 15. Kasey Kahne 16. Chase Elliott 17. Jimmie Johnson 18. AJ Allmendinger 19. Aric Almirola 20. Darrell Wallace Jr. 21. Austin Dillon 22. Chris Buescher 23. David Ragan 24. Matt DiBenedetto 25. Denny Hamlin 26. Martin Truex Jr. 27. Ross Chastain 28. Gray Gaulding 29. Landon Cassill 30. Ryan Newman 31. Jamie McMurray 32. Ty Dillon 33. Trevor Bayne 34. Corey LaJoie 35. DJ Kennington 36. Reed Sorenson 37. Harrison Rhodes 38. Chad Finchum 39. Kevin Harvick
