Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch is out to defend his place at the top of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings on Saturday when this year's competition makes its way to Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

Joe Gibbs Racing star Busch, 34, holds a 20-point cushion over second-place Joey Logano heading into the 2019 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, but he's failed to place top five in any of his last four races.

Bristol could be the right setting for him to rediscover his triumphant touch; he's won here three times in his career (2009-10, '17), not to mention he and older brother Kurt have accounted for the past two wins.

Another name worth keeping an eye on is 2014 Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, who remains 70 points off the summit but looks like a threat following two wins in his last four races.

      

Date: Saturday, August 17

Location: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee

TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.)

Live Stream: fuboTV (U.S.)

Tickets: StubHub

         

Start Times (ET)

Friday, August 16

11 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice

1 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice

5:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying

       

Saturday, August 17

7:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race      

A full list of drivers taking part in the event can be found on the NASCAR website.

        

Preview

Bristol Motor Speedway has produced mixed results for the younger Busch sibling in recent years, although three wins from his last four appearances is a record any driver would be envious of.

"Rowdy" has triumphed in each of the past two Spring meetings at this venue but finished 20th at the 2018 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, evidence of the double-edged nature of the track.

Busch has had highs and lows in Bristol, as well as moments he'd rather forget, via Fox:

Kyle Busch took the lead ... then got taken out. pic.twitter.com/YXnAFQbil7

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 15, 2019

Former Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards edged Busch—then in his first season as a Joe Gibbs Racing driver—to a famous win over the Las Vegas native here in 2008:

Carl Edwards vs. @KyleBusch.

This one wasn't over when the 🏁 flew. #ItsBristolBaby pic.twitter.com/PDGZ5WnUyV

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 14, 2019

Fans will hope to see the sparks of competition fly again in Bristol on Saturday, and Harvick looks sure to be one of those fighting to keep Busch from extending his lead in the standings.

It took Harvick 20 races to get his first victory of 2019 on the board, but he looks all the more menacing after he won the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway last Sunday:

The 43-year-old veteran hasn't finished outside the top seven in his last four races and looks a prospect for the title once again, with only three races left in the regular season.

Busch's Joe Gibbs team-mate Denny Hamlin is also on a hot streak after placing in the top five in each of his last five races (one win), and he took second in Brooklyn, Michigan, last time out:

.@DennyHamlin came up one spot short of the win at @MISpeedway

Still, it's been a very solid stretch for Denny, with two runner-up finishes and a win in the last four races. pic.twitter.com/Phl5BkwEaZ

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 11, 2019

The post-season order is taking shape as we head into the business end of the 2019 campaign, with a lot still left to fight for heading to Bristol.  

With the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series playoffs getting closer, the battle for positions will continue Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

There are seven races remaining before the playoffs begin with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 15. With only eight drivers notching wins this season, there are still plenty of playoff berths available.

Any driver who notches a win over the next seven races will qualify for the postseason, and only a few points separate the drivers in from those who are out.

Here's everything you need to know entering this week's Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire.

                    

NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Info

Date: Sunday, July 21

Time: 3 p.m. ET

TV: NBC Sports Network

Tickets: Available on StubHub

Lineup: Full lineup on NASCAR.com

                

Preview

For the first time since August 2017, Brad Keselowski will be leading the Sprint Cup field to the green flag for Sunday's race at New Hampshire.

Keselowski is third in the points standings behind Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., and he will be looking for his first win at the track since 2014.

"This definitely surprised me," Keselowski said, according to NASCAR.com's Reid Spencer. "It's been a while since we've had a pole. We've had really good cars but haven't been able to make the most of it with the driver in qualifying, so it's nice to get one here in Loudon."

Although Keselowski hadn't led the field to the green flag in some time, he's looking forward to the opportunity to capitalize on his strong starting position.

"The first pit stall will be huge for sure," Keselowski said, per Spencer. "This track on pit road has a lot of chaos. I'm not saying you can't wreck in pit stall No. 1, but it's a little harder there and it certainly makes life a lot easier for your pit crew. It's like you're in the HOV lane [on pit exit]."

Kurt Busch will be starting alongside Keselowski on the front row after he won the previous race at Kentucky Speedway. Busch sits seventh in the standings, just ahead of Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, who have one win each this season.

Prior to qualifying, Elliott had the fastest time during the first practice at New Hampshire, turning a lap at 137.086 mph. With that strong showing and a 12th-place starting position, Elliott will be looking to earn his second victory of the Sprint Cup season.

Meanwhile, Keselowski will be hoping to turn his pole position into a victory and momentum.

"We're happy with that effort," Keselowski said, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "It certainly bodes well for our shot to get those stage wins and of course the overall race win come Sunday. But we still have to go earn it. So you're happy for it. You take a breath and you celebrate it and you get your head back down and go to work."

Keselowski could move into a tie for the most Sprint Cup wins this season with Kyle Busch and Truex if he can win Sunday's race. That would bode well as this trio of drivers looks to gain momentum as the playoffs draw nearer.

Brad Keselowski secured his first pole of the 2019 season during Friday's qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.

Keselowski beat out Kyle Busch in one of the final qualifying runs of the day, while Kurt Busch qualified third on the heels of his win in last week's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.

Something to prove for @keselowski and the 2⃣ crew this weekend?

Hear what the @Team_Penske driver had to say following his pole-winning lap at @NHMS. pic.twitter.com/VcsPtgguAw

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 19, 2019

Here is a look at the full qualifying order, courtesy of NASCAR.com (Time in seconds in parenthesis):

1. Brad Keselowski: 27.927

2. Kyle Busch: 27.942

3. Kurt Busch: 27.957

4. Erik Jones: 27.967

5. Ryan Blaney: 27.982

6. Martin Truex Jr.: 27.989

7. Matt DiBenedetto: 28.008

8. Joey Logano: 28.028

9. Aric Almirola: 28.030

10. Jimmie Johnson: 28.038

11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 28.063

12. Chase Elliott: 28.066

13. Daniel Suarez: 28.087

14. Kevin Harvick: 28.110

15. Kyle Larson: 28.131

16. Clint Bowyer: 28.164

17. Paul Menard: 28.302

18. Ty Dillon: 28.303

19. Daniel Hemric: 28.307

20. David Ragan: 28.332

21. Austin Dillon: 28.367

22. William Byron: 28.400

23. Denny Hamlin: 28.432

24. Michael McDowell: 28.437

25. Chris Buescher: 28.525

26. Ryan Newman: 28.597

27. Bubba Wallace: 28.618

28. Ryan Preece: 28.633

29. Corey Lajoie: 28.655

30. Matt Tifft: 28.674

31. Landon Cassill: 28.848

32. Ross Chastain: 29.116

33. Reed Sorenson: 29.405

34. Quin Houff: 29.561

35. Andy Seuss: 29.669

36. Austin Theriault: 30.874

37. Alex Bowman: DNF

Erik Jones occupied the top spot for much of Friday's qualifying session until Kyle Busch surpassed him in the latter stages. Then, Keselowski beat out Busch in his first of two laps:

To the top of the chart: @keselowski! 📈

The 2⃣ is looking for his first #BuschPole in 2019. pic.twitter.com/d20Zy8tXld

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 19, 2019

Kurt Busch gave Keselowski a run for his money and was nearly on pace to beat him out but ultimately had to settle for the inside spot in Row 2:

Last week's winner puts up a solid #BuschPole lap, but it won't be quite enough.@KurtBusch qualifies P3 at @NHMS! pic.twitter.com/ufCyW7B8kf

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 19, 2019

While Keselowski and the Busch brothers thrived, there were a few mishaps during and before qualifying among the other drivers.

William Byron narrowly avoided disaster when he tapped the wall during his run, and he managed to recover enough to earn the No. 22 qualifying position:

Just a little kiss with the wall. 😬@WilliamByron | #BuschPole pic.twitter.com/mU7d9FKu48

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 19, 2019

His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman wasn't so fortunate.

Just a few weeks removed from his first Cup Series win at Chicagoland Speedway, Bowman experienced a mechanical issue that ended his day:

That did NOT sound good. 😖#BuschPole qualifying comes to an abrupt end for @AlexBowman88 after a major mechanical issue. pic.twitter.com/MCKqJt9Tn7

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 19, 2019

As a result, Bowman will start at the end of the field Sunday in 37th.

Before qualifying even started, there was some controversy surrounding Daniel Hemric and the No. 8 team. According to NASCAR.com, Hemric's car failed inspection three times Friday, which led to car chief Darin Nestlerode getting ejected from the track and banned for the remainder of the weekend.

Despite the distraction, Hemric managed a solid 19th-place run in qualifying.

Keselowski has a solid chance to move up in the standings this week. A win would tie him for the most victories this season at four with Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr.

While Keselowski has only one win in 18 career starts at New Hampshire, his average finish of 11.1 is third to only Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson among drivers with at least 10 starts at the track.

Kyle Busch is also a strong bet starting from the second spot since he has three wins at New Hampshire and four wins overall this season.

Keselowski, Busch and the rest of the field will vie for a victory in the Foxwoods Casino 301 on Sunday beginning at 3 p.m. ET.

A thrilling overtime finish resulted in Kurt Busch holding off brother his brother Kyle and taking down the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky on Saturday. 

The caution flag came out with just a handful of laps remaining after Bubba Wallace encountered trouble:

Here's what happened to @BubbaWallace to bring out this latest caution.

NBCSN | @KySpeedway pic.twitter.com/SiuHIK8TM0

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 14, 2019

At the time, Joey Logano held a comfortable lead over Kyle Busch and looked headed toward his third Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win of the season.

However, the restart altered that seemingly inevitable ending and the Busch brothers stormed to the front when the caution lifted. That, in turn, led to an unbelievable finish:

WHAT A FINISH!@KurtBusch holds off @KyleBusch to WIN at @KYSpeedway! #QS400 pic.twitter.com/0kbLBJUxMA

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 14, 2019

It will be hard for any remaining race this season to top Quaker State 400's drama. Here's a look at the Quaker State 400 results and race highlights and reaction. 

           

Top 15 Finishers

1. Kurt Busch

2. Kyle Busch

3. Erik Jones

4. Kyle Larson

5. Denny Hamlin

6. Clint Bowyer

7. Joey Logano

8. Daniel Suarez

9. Ryan Newman

10. Chris Buescher

11. Paul Menard

12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

13. Ryan Blaney

14. Aric Almirola

15. Chase Elliott

Full standings can be found on NASCAR.com.

            

Highlights and Reaction

Kurt Busch took Stage 1 after grabbing the lead from Brad Keselowski off a restart:

How 'bout that restart, though? 👀@KurtBusch was able to wrestle the lead away from @keselowski in Stage 1! @KySpeedway | NBCSN pic.twitter.com/YBmjmZKMoR

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 14, 2019

And he held off Logano for the win and the points:

Lightning isn't stopping Kurt Busch today.

He wins Stage 1 at Kentucky, presented by @Kroger #ClickList. pic.twitter.com/io8FsHkO7k

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 14, 2019

Keselowski wasn't done, however, and forced Kyle Busch off the throttle in Stage 2:

Brad Keselowski slides in front of Kyle Busch, forcing the leader to lift off the throttle! #QS400 pic.twitter.com/gqjNkuZJI5

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 14, 2019

However, Kyle Busch's aggressiveness took hold as he went three-wide following a restart and also made a nice move around Austin Dillon:

Who else but @KyleBusch to take it three-wide right after a restart? 😬@KySpeedway | NBCSN pic.twitter.com/69JcGghyXg

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 14, 2019

A power move indeed. 💪@KyleBusch takes the long way around @austindillon3 to claim another spot.

📺: NBCSN // 📱: https://t.co/BHXvTwJmNc pic.twitter.com/7cp4oZZYt5

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 14, 2019

Keselowski retook the lead and tried to hold off Kyle Busch:

The 2⃣ of @keselowski isn't going down without a fight trying to stay on the lead lap ahead of @KyleBusch! 👀

NBCSN | @KySpeedway pic.twitter.com/AyDx8jLDAY

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 14, 2019

However, the younger Busch brother ended up winning Stage 2.

The final stage saw Clint Bowyer make a charge for the lead against Kurt Busch, impressing racing legend and color commentator Dale Earnhardt Jr.:

"I'm loving this! This is awesome!"@DaleJr is having fun watching Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch battle for the lead. Join us live on NBCSN. pic.twitter.com/Rh0EMUsu8k

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 14, 2019

But Logano used a crossover move to get by Kyle Busch in the final stage:

WHAT A BATTLE!

Joey Logano gets by Kyle Busch for what will be the race lead when pit stops cycle through! Could it be for the race win at @KYSpeedway? pic.twitter.com/Zcic4zyGXQ

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 14, 2019

That edge didn't last long, though, as the restart allowed Kurt Busch to hold off his brother and win his first race of the year.

NASCAR writer Jeff Gluck summed it up well:

Well that was an exciting finish. Apparently tires mattered more than we thought! Great driving by Kurt Busch. I don’t know if it makes up for last week, but it’s got to feel good.

First-ever win for crew chief Matt McCall, too.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 14, 2019

Jim Utter of Motorsport.com certainly enjoyed the finish:

It. Don't. Get. Better. Than. That.#TakeyourFullThrottleandShoveIt

— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) July 14, 2019

Matt Weaver of Autoweek pointed out what it meant for Matt McCall, Kurt Busch's crew chief who won his first-ever NASCAR race leading a team:

The redemption arc for @Matt_McCall is real. He took a beating on Sunday night and Monday morning. Even read the tweets second-guessing his strategy, even one from @MeredithMcCall.

He gets to stick his chest out this week.

I hope he gets to read some more tweets on Tuesday.

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) July 14, 2019

The @Matt_McCall victory is cool on a short track standpoint too. Late Model Stock veteran, who still races each November at Southern National in the Thanksgiving Classic.

He was so well-regarded that RCR pursued litigation to keep him in the fold when he took the CC job at CGR.

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) July 14, 2019

As Weaver referenced, McCall was taken to task by fans last week after he told Kurt Busch to pit during a rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400.

Busch, who was in the lead before the pit stop, never got back onto the track as lightning delays ended the race. The criticism was so loud that McCall even addressed fans on Twitter:

.@Matt_McCall responds to fan tweets regarding his call to bring @KurtBusch down pit road near the end of Sunday's race in Daytona 😂 #NASCAR | #TuesdayTweets pic.twitter.com/R9rxnZSUw1

— Chip Ganassi Racing (@CGRTeams) July 9, 2019

McCall got the last laugh, though.

Kyle Busch, who has the most top-10 and top-15 finishes this season, led for a race-high 72 laps. He and Martin Truex Jr. are tied for first with four wins apiece.

Daniel Suarez, who started in the pole position and led 53 laps, finished eighth. Logano, who entered Saturday first in the Monster Energy Series standings, took seventh.

The 2019 NASCAR season continues Saturday with the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

The event is the 19th race of the regular season and will see 36 drivers compete over 400.5 miles.

In Friday's Xfinity Series race, 38 drivers will battle it out over 200 laps in the Alsco 300.

                       

Schedule

Friday, July 12

4:05 p.m. ET: Xfinity Series Qualifying

6:05 p.m. ET: Cup Series Qualifying

7:30 p.m. ET: Alsco 300 Race

             

Saturday, July 13

7:30 p.m. ET: Quaker State 400 Race

        

TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.)

      

The full list of drivers competing at Kentucky can be found on the NBC Sports website.

Tickets are available to purchase on StubHub and via the circuit's official website.

                   

Preview

The drivers will be hoping for normal service to resume after a hectic race weekend in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway last time out.

The race, which had to be delayed because of rain and was cut short by 33 laps by lightning, was won by Justin Haley.

Haley, a 20-year-old, 500-1 outsider, was making just his third Cup start and is ineligible to receive Cup points.

Joey Logano remains atop the standings, 18 points ahead of closest rival Kyle Busch. The pair were among the 18 drivers who crashed prior to the weather interruption.

Austin Dillon and Clint Bowyer came together at Turn 1 and collected almost half the field with their collision:

As the laps wound down, the intensity picked up at @DISupdates.
And then — it happened.

See and hear how the chaos of The Big One unfolded from on board several top contenders. pic.twitter.com/EWvnwMbRFa

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 9, 2019

Martin Truex Jr. was also among those caught up in the crash. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is fifth in the standings and 103 points behind Logano despite having won four races and finished second twice this season.

He will be hoping to reduce that gap with a fifth win of 2019, having won there two years running:

Three's a magic number at @KYSpeedway. @MartinTruex_Jr is going for three wins in a row there, but knows Turn 3 is one of the most intimidating corners in @NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/k0G3DiEbJ2

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 9, 2019

Busch has also won the Quaker State 400 twice, in the inaugural race in 2011 and most recently in 2015. He's also secured a top-10 finish in Sparta on five further occasions.

Brad Keselowski, fourth in the standings, also has an excellent record in Kentucky, with three wins and a further three top-10 finishes.

If the trio enjoy similar success Saturday, Logano's position atop the standings will be far less comfortable.

The 2019 NASCAR season returns to the Daytona International Speedway in Florida for the Independence Day weekend at the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

A full 40-car field will compete in the 160-mile, 400-lap event, the 18th race out of 26 in the regular season.

On Friday, the Xfinity Series will also be in action in the Circle K Firecracker 250, before Saturday's main event in the Cup Series.

                              

Schedule

Friday, July 5

3:35 p.m. ET: Xfinity Series Qualifying

5:05 p.m. ET: Cup Series Qualifying

7:30 p.m. ET: Circle K Firecracker 250 Race

        

Saturday, July 6

7:30 p.m. ET: Coke Zero Sugar 400 Race

   

TV Info: NBC (U.S.)

      

The full list of drivers competing in the racing at Daytona can be found on the NBC Sports website.

Tickets are available to purchase on StubHub and via the circuit's official website for the NASCAR event.

                   

Preview

Erik Jones is the defending champion at the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and it's a role he's relishing upon his return, per WESH 2 News' Courtney Jasmin:

Erik Jones is the defending champion of the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Jones, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, earned his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory and a playoff spot in last year’s event. He will try to join the back-to-back club on Saturday pic.twitter.com/HTCYuEnTIN

— Courtney Jasmin (@IamCourtJasmin) July 5, 2019

A successful defence of his title would be a timely boost in a season that has been difficult at times.

While he's finished in the top four on four occasions, he has as many finishes in which he has ended a race in 29th place or lower, and he's yet to win one.

As a result, he finds himself 17th in the drivers' championship, outside the 16 who will advance to the playoffs.

A win would guarantee him a spot in the playoffs. While he's confident he can secure one, he can also qualify with enough points if he can finish the season strongly.

"I think for us our goal is 30 points a race," he said, per Motorsport.com's Jim Utter. "That's about a seventh-place finish. If we can do that every week, we will easily point our way in without a win. We know we can win a race."

Jones has looked promising in practice, and he was among the quickest in the final practice session behind only Martin Truex Jr., who came second last year, and Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, per NBC Sports' Dustin Long:

#NASCAR ... Cars topping 205 mph in this practice

1. Martin Truex Jr (205.935)
2. Denny Hamlin (205.737)
3. Erik Jones (205.723)
4. Matt DiBenedetto (205.380)

— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) July 4, 2019

The drivers' championship leader is Joey Logano, who finished third last time out at the Chicagoland Speedway.

He opened up an 18-point gap on his closest rival Kyle Busch, who came 22nd.

The 29-year-old will hope to increase his lead further on Saturday, but Busch has also been strong in practice after going fastest in the first session. 

Logano has crashed out of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in each of the last two years. If he suffers the same fate this time around, he could let his rivals back in.

Martin Truex Jr. cruised to victory in Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.

Kyle Busch was the only driver who presented a challenge to Truex heading into the final lap yet still finished 1.861 seconds behind Truex when he crossed the finish line. Third-place finisher Ryan Blaney was 33.549 seconds off the No. 19 car.

Truex led 59 of the race's 90 laps.

Retweet to congratulate @MartinTruex_Jr and the No. 19 team on their WIN in Sonoma! pic.twitter.com/u4oUFTaCR8

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 23, 2019

He now has four wins in 2019, tying him with Busch for the most in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Here are the top 10 finishers, with the full leaderboard available on NASCAR.com:

        

Toyota/Save Mart 350 Leaderboard

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Kyle Busch

3. Ryan Blaney

4. Matt DiBenedetto

5. Denny Hamlin

6. Kevin Harvick

7. Ryan Newman

8. Erik Jones

9. Aric Almirola

10. Kyle Larson

        

This is the second consecutive year in which Truex largely dominated the field at Sonoma. He claimed the checkered flag in 2018 and led 62 laps.

The only late drama from Sunday came with six laps to go as Truex caught up to Michael McDowell and Ty Dillon. Because of Sonoma's layout, Truex had to be patient with when he passed the two, which allowed Busch to make up some ground.

But even that wasn't much of an obstacle for Truex. By the time he got around McDowell and Dillon, he retained a comfortable distance on Busch. From there, the 2017 cup champion had a straightforward path to Victory Lane.

"It was so tough," Truex said, per Performance Racing Network. "He was catching us pretty good on his new tires, luckily we were able to build up enough gap when we pitted early. It was a bit of a challenge but we evened out there at the end."

Even Busch seemed to acknowledge he was fighting an uphill battle down the stretch:

Kyle Busch said (joked?) he knew he wasn’t ever going to catch Truex and was just putting on a show for TV to make it more entertaining.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 23, 2019

sixth in a Monster Energy Cup Series race entering Sunday.

The significance of the moment was evident in DiBenedetto's post-race interview:

And Reddit goes wild! @mattdracing talks with @JamieLittleTV in Sonoma after claiming his first career Top-5 finish. pic.twitter.com/KFIXqzt0nX

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 23, 2019

Kyle Larson started from the pole for the third straight year at Sonoma. His previous two poles didn't ultimately provide much of advantage as he finished 26th in 2017 and 14th in 2018.

Larson's problems started almost immediately, as he surrendered the lead on the opening lap and steadily slipped down the leaderboard.

Kyle Larson started on the pole but he's struggling to find speed at the moment. He's back to third and he's got Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin stacked up behind him.

The top two have driven away by nearly two seconds #TSM350

— PRN (@PRNlive) June 23, 2019

He wound up in 10th place, which is his best result at the track.

The next race up is the Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, on June 30. Kyle Busch is the defending champion after holding off Larson to win the Overton's 400.

According to Driver Averages, Larson has the highest average finish (seventh) among active drivers at Chicagoland. Chase Elliott has performed well there, too, notching two top-fives in three tries, which could be his opportunity to rebound after completing only 60 laps Sunday.

Larson is still looking for his first win of the season—unlike Elliott who already has that all-important victory on his resume—so a trip to Illinois could be what he needs to spark a climb up the playoff standings.

Joey Logano leads the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings by nine points and has travelled to Sonoma Raceway in California for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 hoping to increase his advantage.

The defending champion won the FireKeepers Casino 400 in Brooklyn, Michigan, on June 10 and is out to win successive Cup Series races for the first time in nearly four years.

Second-place Kyle Busch has experience winning this race at Sonoma—something Logano doesn't—and both drivers have been in electric form.

Joe Gibbs Racing star Busch has four wins to his name this season—more than any other driver in the series—and sits more than 60 points in front of third-place Brad Keselowski as he seeks to close the gap to Logano.

           

Date: Sunday, June 23

Location: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California

TV Info: FS1 (U.S.)

Tickets: StubHub

           

Upcoming NASCAR TV Schedule

Saturday, Feb. 23

Monster Energy Cup Series qualifying, 3:10 p.m. ET (FS1, TSN)

Gander Outdoors Truck Series qualifying, 6:35 p.m. ET (FS2)

Gander Outdoors Truck Series CarShield 200, 10 p.m. ET (FS1)

       

Sunday, Feb. 24

Monster Energy Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350, 3 p.m. ET (FS1, TSN)

                

Preview

No driver has successfully defended a NASCAR Cup Series title since Jimmie Johnson won the crown five times in a row between 2006 and 2010, but Logano remains on course to repeat as champion.

The frequent turns at Sonoma promise to make things interesting, but Logano is in the mood to get back to winning races if his triumph in the FireKeepers Casino 400 was much to go by. Footage courtesy of Fox (U.S. only):

Joey Logano held off Kurt Busch for his 3rd career win at Michigan. pic.twitter.com/1dfs8mW2Up

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 11, 2019

Logano ended a run of 11 events without a first-placed finish at Michigan International Speedway.

That win saw Logano record a first among NASCAR drivers this season. Reporter Bob Pockrass shared the 29-year-old's reaction after capitalizing upon his pole position:

Joey Logano is the first Cup driver to win from the pole this year. His reaction to that and thoughts on why: #nascar ⁦@NASCARONFOX⁩ pic.twitter.com/Z1WwkRi3u6

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 11, 2019

Busch has two career victories in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 (2008, 2015) while older brother Kurt has one Sonoma win to his name.

However, the introduction of a carousel section between Turns 4 and 7 has added a complication. The official NASCAR website explained this alteration increases the track from 1.99 miles to its original 2.52-mile length.

The No. 18 Toyota driver came across a handful of issues during Friday's final practice and went off track at the carousel:

Nevertheless, Busch will dust himself down and still be in contention for the top prize come Sunday afternoon, having finished only one of his 15 races in 2019 outside the top 10.

Sonoma has a reputation for producing fireworks, and Fox highlighted some of the most memorable moments at this track:

Some of the biggest and wildest moments at Sonoma Raceway pic.twitter.com/NO0ukOdrTX

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 21, 2019

Martin Truex Jr., sixth in the Cup Series standings, took first place at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 last year and will also be one to watch come Sunday.

He also has two career wins at Sonoma (2013, 2018) and has three Cup Series victories from the past seven races, not to mention he finished third in Michigan last time out.

Joey Logano captured his second pole of the season during NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Saturday.

Logano held off Aric Almirola, who finished just 0.019 seconds behind and will start on the outside of Row 1 in the FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday:

Joey Logano makes his Ford friends very happy in Michigan! Retweet to congratulate the No. 22 team on their POLE. pic.twitter.com/2Isb2grl3d

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 8, 2019

Here is a rundown of the full qualifying order, courtesy of NASCAR.com (times in seconds):

1. Joey Logano: 38.474

2. Aric Almirola: 38.493

3. Kevin Harvick: 38.522

4. Denny Hamlin: 38.526

5. Clint Bowyer: 38.549

6. Paul Menard: 38.573

7. Kurt Busch: 38.590

8. Brad Keselowski: 38.605

9. Daniel Suarez: 38.612

10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 38.620

11. Daniel Hemric: 38.632

12. Austin Dillon: 38.639

13. Ryan Blaney: 38.661

14. Erik Jones: 38.705

15. Kyle Busch: 38.714

16. Martin Truex Jr.: 38.714

17. Chase Elliott: 38.732

18. Ryan Newman: 38.792

19. Jimmie Johnson: 38.793

20. Alex Bowman: 38.878

21. William Byron: 38.925

22. Kyle Larson: 38.927

23. Michael McDowell: 38.927

24. David Ragan: 38.963

25. Ty Dillon: 39.030

26. Matt Tifft: 39.040

27. Bubba Wallace: 39.122

28. Ryan Preece: 39.191

29. Matt DiBenedetto: 39.271

30. Landon Cassill: 39.274

31. Chris Buescher: 39.296

32. Corey Lajoie: 39.401

33. Kyle Weatherman: 39.801

34. Josh Bilicki: 40.177

35. Quin Houff: 40.271

36. Garrett Smithley: 40.435

                       

Logano is a two-time winner at Michigan, and both wins came from the pole. Knowing that, Logano discussed the importance of starting on the inside of Row 1:

Whatever he did on his lap, it worked! 😂@joeylogano's only two wins at @MISpeedway came from the #BuschPole — will history repeat itself tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/CtIwaf0ECM

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2019

Meanwhile, Almirola expressed confidence about his car entering Sunday's race:

Another run at the #BuschPole comes up just short for @Aric_Almirola.

He'll look to give @StewartHaasRcng their first win of the season tomorrow at @MISpeedway! pic.twitter.com/eP0CCooqgF

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2019

Kyle Busch, who leads the NASCAR Cup Series in points and in wins with four, only managed to qualify in 15th. Because of that, Logano has a legitimate chance to pass him in the points standings Sunday.

Logano is second in the standings and trails Busch by just four points. Busch also has just one win in 28 career starts at Michigan, making it one of the few tracks he hasn't dominated over the years.

Among drivers with at least seven career starts at Michigan, Logano has the best average finish at 12.5 behind only Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick.

Harvick is still in search of his first win of 2019, but he has a good chance to get it Sunday since he is starting third. Keselowski could tie Busch with his fourth win of the season if he is able to pick up the victory from the eighth starting spot.

Saturday was a big day for Stewart-Haas Racing, as all four of its drivers qualified ninth or better. Almirola (second), Harvick (third), Clint Bowyer (fifth) and Daniel Suarez (ninth) are all strong candidates to take the checkered flag Sunday.

Kyle Busch's quest to earn his 10th top-10 finish of the 2019 NASCAR season got off to a great start Friday. 

The NASCAR Monster Energy Series points leader ended up second in the final practice for the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. 

Kevin Harvick led the field with the best lap time of 38.143 seconds at a speed of 188.763 miles per hour. 

Joey Logano, who is Busch's closest competition for the top spot in the points standings, has some work to do during Saturday's qualifying to match the production of the No. 18 car after he placed 12th in final practice. 

                    

FireKeepers Casino 400 Information

Qualifying: Saturday, 12:05 p.m. ET 

Race Start Time: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET

TV: Saturday 12:05 to 1:45 p.m. ET on FS1, Sunday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET on FS1

Ticket Info: Tickets for Sunday's race can be found on StubHub.

                    

Busch comes into Michigan in some of the best recent form of the drivers in the Monster Energy Series. 

After taking 30th in Kansas, Busch placed third at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and won the Pocono 400 a week ago. 

Although he appears to be in good shape after his strong practice run, Busch has to put together an impressive overall weekend to keep his lead in the standings. 

Logano enters Sunday four points behind the driver of the No. 18 car, while Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Harvick are all within 68 points of Busch. 

Of the drivers in the top five in the standings, Harvick is most in need of a good result at Michigan. 

Harvick, who is the only driver in the top seven of the points standings without a win in 2019, is coming off a 22nd-place finish at Pocono. 

The driver of the No. 4 car has two finishes inside the top five in his last eight races, but that form appears to be turning in a different direction after Friday's practice. 

Michigan seems like the perfect track for Harvick to get back into top-five form, as he won the August race at the track in 2018. 

Harvick's Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer, who finished third in Friday's practice, is the defending champion of the June race at Michigan. 

Bowyer's win a year ago ended a three-race winning streak by Kyle Larson at the track. Larson landed 14th in Friday's practice. 

Beneath Harvick, Busch and Bowyer on the list of practice times were Daniel Suarez, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch, Erik Jones, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr. and Alex Bowman. 

What stands out when looking at the practice grid is four of the top five times were recorded by Stewart-Haas Racing cars, with Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota the only car able to break their dominance. 

That is a good sign for Harvick and his teammates heading into qualifying and the race itself. 

If you were to pick a winner now, Harvick and Bowyer seem like the best options because of their 2018 success at the track and early results on race weekend. 

Kyle Busch must be considered in the mix to win the FireKeepers Casino 400 because of his overall season form, but he might not have enough horsepower and help at the front of the field to get past the Stewart-Haas cars Sunday. 

                               

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from NASCAR.com.