Sat, 06 Aug 22 20:52:30 +0000

Bubba Wallace Wins First Career NASCAR Cup Pole in Michigan

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Reuters

After a blistering lap at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, Bubba Wallace found himself on pole Sunday at the Firekeepers Casino 400 (3pm ET, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). did not.

Shortly after finishing the final lap in 37.755 seconds (190.703 mph), Wallace went through Turns 1 and 2 and the team his radio went completely silent.

"I felt really good about the lap. I was on the wrong channel and it was quiet all the way to the backstretch," Wallace said. "And I'm like, 'Good, I don't know where I got to.' And I was on the wrong channel, and they said I got the pole."

The Busch Light Pole Award was the first in Wallace's career and the first for 23XI Racing as an organization.

"It's about time," said Wallace. “It took us five years to get our first pole and this is a testament to the entire No. 23 team, 23XI. They have really done a great job all year. Not yet, but I'm proud of everyone who made it.

"There's a lot of adversity on this team, but we're ready to fight."

Wallace, the last driver to qualify, pulled fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell (189.898 mph) off the provisional pole by 0.160 seconds. Kyle his Busch marked his third fastest time at 189.868 mph and Toyota swept his spot starting in the top three.

This may be significant given that he has won five of his last six Michigan races from his starting position of third or better. The exception was he in the second race of 2020, where the previous day's top 20 reversed to start the second leg of the weekend's doubleheader.

Kevin Harvick swept these two races from his 3rd place on the grid and his 20th place.

In Saturday's time trial, Ford teammates Joey Logano and Austin Sindrick finished fourth and his fifth respectively, ahead of Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin. , Eric Jones entered the top ten.

– Kyle Busch NASCAR version of Starcross "Joe Btfsplk".

The cartoon "L'il Abner" featured a person named Joe Btfsplk with a constant rain cloud overhead.

Given his recent track performance and the terrifying experience his family had at the Mall of America on Thursday, Kyle Busch feels a certain kinship with the ill-fated character. seems to feel

When Bush, his wife Samantha, his son Brexton, and his baby daughter Lennix were visiting the Mall of America, rumors of an active shooter flew through the crowded facility. . Samantha and Lennix walk away from Kyle and Brexton, who are waiting for their ride.

"There was certainly a great sense of urgency," said Bush. “I got a call from Samantha and I had no idea. Brexton and I were in line for a ride.

"Then we kept talking on the phone together. She said to me, 'There was a shooter, and a shooting took place in a shopping mall.' Whatever shots are fired, you don't know.

"The scariest thing about it is that you don't know what's going on. So I'm asking her." Where am I, what store are you from, what level are you on, am I walking my way into it, or am I walking my way out of it, and chaos

Fortunately, Bush and his family exited the mall unharmed, but no. 18 For Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota drivers, the experience has been emblematic of the past two months. Frustrated with contract negotiations beyond 2023, Bush came to Michigan without the top 10 for his seven-race streak, the worst of his career.

We were in the wrong place at the wrong time so many times the other day," Bush said sadly.

His string of bad luck included disqualification after his second-place finish at Pocono. A post-race inspection revealed tape added to his Camry nose and ostensible race winner Denny his Hamlin nose, disqualifying him as well.

– Ford drivers look to extend their dominance in Michigan

bragging rights in racing near the home of the American auto industry is an important aspect. Dominance over the last four years.

After Kyle Larson swept his 2017 season with Chevrolet, Ford won the last seven races at Michigan International Speedway, and Kevin Harvick won his 4th in the period. won.

But NASCAR's switch to next-gen race cars this season leaves 2019 race winner Joey Logano unsure if Ford's dominance will continue this weekend. Hmm.

"Let's see," said Logano. “The short track seems to be part of our wheelhouse these days in the next generation of cars…I know why, but I hope this race track fits in our wheelhouse from an engine standpoint. A lot of the time, the reason we're having so much success here is because Roush Yates' power, especially on the top end, is so good…

"This is one. Of those racetracks where it takes everything. You have to have power. You have to have the right amount of downforce and the right amount of drag. That balance We need to get the race right.Michigan is still Michigan.I don't think it's much different than it was in the past."

Bubba Wallace Wins First Career NASCAR Cup Pole in Michigan

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