Kurt Busch

Before the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season began, the two-race weekend at Pocono Raceway was viewed as the most unique setup on the schedule.

After competing in three midweek races in May and June, running a pair of competitions following four days off is just part of the new normal.

Saturday's Pocono Organics 325 follows the most competitive race of the season to date at Talladega Superspeedway, which was won by Ryan Blaney.

Winning back-to-back races will be tough for Blaney, as he faces stiff competition from Pocono expert Kyle Busch and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates who have dominated the track over the last three years. 

           

Pocono Organics 325 Information

Date: Saturday, June 27

Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Live Stream: FoxSports.com or Fox Sports app

         

Starting Lineup

Cup lineup for Saturday at Pocono. Green flag 3:54pm ET on FOX. Stages 25-52-53 (130 laps). Sunday lineup by Saturday results with top-20 inverted (no lead-lap requirement). Sunday race green 4:24 ET on FS1. Stages 30-55-55 (140 laps). #nascar ⁦@NASCARONFOX⁩ pic.twitter.com/HBE3krdLj3

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 25, 2020

     

Odds

Kyle Busch (+350; bet $100 to win $350)

Kevin Harvick (+500)

Martin Truex Jr. (+600)

Denny Hamlin (+750)

Brad Keselowski (+750)

Chase Elliott (+800)

Joey Logano (+1100)

Ryan Blaney (+1200)

Odds via Caesars Palace

          

Preview

Saturday presents Kyle Busch with the best chance to earn his first victory of the season.

The driver of the No. 18 car conquered Pocono once in each of the last three years. He has a pair of second-place finishes since NASCAR's restart in May, but he also owns three placings beneath 25th, including a 32nd-place mark at Talladega.

Busch credited crew chief Adam Stevens and his teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing for his recent success at the three-turn track, per NBC Sports' Daniel McFadin.

"(Pocono's) evolved with Adam Stevens being the crew chief since 2015," Busch said. "We've run really well there. It's a good track for us. I've learned a lot from my teammate Denny Hamlin who's won there (five times), and certainly working with Martin (Truex Jr., who has two wins) and his guys has also brought on some new, fresh ideas which help."

Hamlin and Truex Jr., who recently picked up their wins, are the only other competitors to capture first in the last five Pocono races. 

All but one of those triumphs came from a top-10 starting position. Truex won from 28th in June 2018. 

Hamlin and Busch start side-by-side on the second row, while Truex was drawn into 11th Thursday. The top 12 positions were determined by a draw from the top 12 teams in owner points. 

Aric Almirola earned the pole position, and Blaney will start next to him on the front row. 

Starting high on the grid has been important for recent Pocono champions. Since 2014, 10 drivers in 12 races have won from a top-10 position.

Blaney may be the best value play on the odds board Saturday since he has a victory from June 2017 at Pocono and has six top-five finishes in the last seven races. 

Kurt Busch could be the other long shot to target at +2000. The driver of the No. 1 car has three Pocono victories and has been a constant fixture in the top 10 since the Coca-Cola 600.

               

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from NASCAR.com

The spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway could not have come at a better time for Kyle Busch.

The winner of the past two editions of the Food City 500 is coming off a disappointing 29th-placed finish at the Alsco Uniforms 500 on Thursday night. Busch has experienced mixed results in the four races since NASCAR's return, earning a pair of top-five finishes and two spots outside the top 25.

The driver of the No. 18 car and his older brother, Kurt, possess the most wins at Bristol of any active drivers.

There are nine Food City 500 wins between the brothers, but they will face plenty of challengers Sunday, including Chase Elliott, who has had one of the fastest cars over the past two weeks and won Thursday night at Charlotte.

                                

NASCAR at Bristol Information

Date: Sunday, May 31

Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1

Live Stream: Fox Sports app and FoxSports.com.

                 

Starting Lineup

Starting lineup for Bristol on Sunday: #nascar ⁦@NASCARONFOX⁩ pic.twitter.com/GIsuRzV3QN

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 29, 2020

          

Preview

Kyle Busch will begin his title defense from seventh position after a draw was held for the starting positions Friday afternoon.

Brad Keselowski, who also won the draw for the first of two races at Darlington Raceway, was assigned the pole position. Keselowski is one of four drivers to win since NASCAR's return in mid-May, with Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Elliott being the others.

Before winning Thursday night, Elliott had opportunities to win the prior races at Darlington and Charlotte, but his plans were derailed by a wreck caused by the No. 18 car and failed pit strategy. Despite the recent bad luck, the Hendrick Motorsports racer has five top-10 finishes this season, and he's third in the driver standings.

Harvick, the Cup Series points leader, has found himself in the top 10 on eight occasions. He has also led the most laps of any driver. The No. 4 car driver is one of eight racers to have at least four top-10 placings, and five of those racers have captured at least one victory.

Kurt and Kyle Busch are two of the three competitors in that group who have not reached Victory Lane. The former put together the better performances of the two in the past two weeks, including a fifth-placed mark Thursday night.

The Chip Ganassi Racing team member has finished higher than his starting position in five of the past six races. Those performances, coupled with his five wins at Bristol from 2002 to 2009, make him one of the favorites to win Sunday afternoon.

His brother, Elliott and Keselowski are also among the favorites to win, but there are a few more drivers to consider for the 500-lap contest.

Ryan Blaney is coming off back-to-back third-placed finishes at Charlotte and starts on the second row in fourth place, while Jimmie Johnson has run well since racing resumed and is the only other driver in the field with multiple spring race wins at Bristol.

                       

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from NASCAR.com.

Kurt Busch secured the pole position at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway after finishing first in Sunday's qualifying.

The No. 1 car finished with a time of 29.79 seconds with a top speed of 181.269 miles per hour, edging Jimmie Johnson in second place by .009 seconds. The two will now start at the front of the pack for the upcoming race Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

     

Starting Order

1. Kurt Busch (1)

2. Jimmie Johnson (48)

3. Chase Elliott (9)

4. Matt Kenseth (42)

5. Tyler Reddick (8)

6. Austin Dillon (3)

7. Joey Logano (22)

8. Martin Truex Jr. (19)

9. Brad Keselowski (2)

10. William Byron (24)

Full starting list available at NASCAR.com.

     

This event represented the first form of traditional qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series since returning from hiatus because of the coronavirus.

The season officially resumed last week with a pair of races at Darlington Raceway after being away for more than two months. Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin each earned wins, but there was no official qualifying as NASCAR tried to minimize risk upon returning.

The Real Heroes 400 created its starting order based on owners points and a random draw, while the Toyota 500 used an inverted order from the previous race.

Things were almost back to normal Sunday as drivers had to earn their spot on the race track.

Busch was one of the last to run a lap in qualifying, but he was the best in the field to earn his 28th career pole:

The No. 1 is No. 1! @KurtBusch edges @JimmieJohnson and goes to the top of the board in #BuschPole qualifying! pic.twitter.com/ZpnAVaNPqn

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 24, 2020

Johnson was seemingly poised to grab the No. 1 spot after his quality run, but his time didn't hold up:

How about that lap for @JimmieJohnson?

The No. 48 rockets to P1 midway through #BuschPole qualifying on @FS1! pic.twitter.com/qDAXLMtIeh

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 24, 2020

These two led a group of six Chevrolet cars to lead qualifying before Joey Logano's Ford broke the trend.

It wasn't as good of a day for a few other competitors, as Matt DiBenedetto and Aric Almirola each lost control on their laps:

Trouble for Matt DiBenedetto in #CocaCola600 qualifying! pic.twitter.com/j1XnztYFXD

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 24, 2020

Matt DiBenedetto hits the wall off Turn 4 during qualifying at Charlotte. Looked like a pretty decent shot; more than just a brush.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 24, 2020

Take a look at @Aric_Almirola's spin coming to the green flag in #BuschPole qualifying. pic.twitter.com/6W4FKDCDDX

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 24, 2020

The 10 snapped around on Aric Almirola coming off Turn 4 coming to the green flag, and he won’t complete a qualifying lap at speed. And just the slightest of contact on the left rear against the outside wall | #NASCAR

— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) May 24, 2020

The crews will have a short time to repair any damages before the start of the upcoming race later Sunday evening. 

Martin Truex Jr. is the defending champion of this event, while Chase Elliott has also found success in Charlotte. Still, the condensed schedule could create plenty of uncertainty once the green flag is waved.

The NASCAR schedule features plenty of changes, but the one race that remained in the same place was the Coca-Cola 600.

The traditional Memorial Day weekend event at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the third race in a week for the NASCAR Cup Series. Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin enter Sunday's competition off wins at Darlington. They are two of four drivers with victories from the season's first six races. Joey Logano and Alex Bowman are the others.

Unlike the two Darlington races, there will be a qualifying session at Charlotte on Sunday afternoon, four hours before the longest event on the NASCAR calendar begins.

                               

Coca-Cola 600 Information

Date: Sunday, May 24

Start Time: 6 p.m. ET 

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports app or FoxSports.com.

                 

Preview

The Joe Gibbs Racing teams should have the upper hand going into Sunday's race.

The team has won the past two races at Charlotte and three of the previous five, and it placed all four of its cars in the top 10 Wednesday at Darlington.

Denny Hamlin owns the team's two wins this season, while Erik Jones, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. all have multiple top-10 finishes.

Busch is at the center of the sport's top storyline heading into Charlotte. The driver of the No. 18 car wrecked Chase Elliott on the final green flag lap Wednesday, which spurred discussions as to whether it was an intentional move.

Busch told reporters he had a conversation with Elliott to work through the issue, per NASCAR.com's Chase Wilhelm.

"Yes, Chase and I talked and it went really well," Busch said. "He's a class act. We've all seen that. The conversation overall was good."

Elliott addressed the incident Friday and understood Busch made a mistake in their fight for second place, per the Charlotte Observer's Alex Andrejev:

"I get that mistakes happen and that's part of life. I get it. He's just not a guy that makes many mistakes, so for me to be on the poor end of a rare mistake on his end is, at the end of the day, unfortunate for me and my team."

While it looks like tempers have cooled, it will be interesting to see how both drivers react if they are fighting for position at the top of the grid Sunday.

Elliott will try to end Hendrick Motorsports' five-year drought in Victory Lane at the Coca-Cola 600. The driver of the No. 9 car is the top-ranked racer in the points standings without a victory, and teammate Alex Bowman had one of the strongest rides during both Darlington competitions.

Jimmie Johnson can't be counted out since he has won the 600-mile race on four occasions and has run well for most of the season. The 44-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, earned top-12 finishes in four of the past five races and was at the front Sunday at Darlington before he crashed.

Kurt Busch is another older driver to keep an eye on, as he owns a trio of top-10 finishes this year and won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2010.

                       

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from NASCAR.com.

NASCAR is back. And Kevin Harvick welcomed its return with a win at The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. 

Not only was it a special day for NASCAR fans, having racing back on their televisions, but it was also a milestone for Harvick, who became just the 14th driver in NASCAR history to win 50 races. 

That's 5️⃣0️⃣ for @KevinHarvick!

Retweet to congratulate the driver of the No. 4 on his 50th NASCAR Cup Series victory! pic.twitter.com/CPWKDRs022

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 17, 2020

Kevin Harvick becomes the 14th driver to win 50 Cup Series races and the 3rd active driver, joining Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.

Harvick, 44, is the 2nd-oldest driver at the time of his 50th Cup Series victory and the only driver to record a Top 10 in all 5 Cup races this year pic.twitter.com/3P2K8UMh8k

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 17, 2020

"It's a pretty big honor to win 50 races in this deal," Harvick said after his victory. 

"I'm speechless."- @KevinHarvick talks with @ReganSmith and honors #TheRealHeroes after his Darlington win. pic.twitter.com/0fJcjsv2d2

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 17, 2020

Harvick added that winning without any fans in attendance was a much different experience than his past 49 wins.

"Man, I'm excited," he said. "It is weird, just because there's nobody [in the stands]."

Remember how exciting it was when Rusty Wallace earned his 50th win.

What an accomplishment for Kevin Harvick. He may surpass 60 when it’s all said and done. #NASCAR

— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) May 17, 2020

It was a dominant win for Harvick, who led for 123 laps, more than any other driver. Alex Bowman finished in second place, Kurt Busch took home third, and Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five. William Byron won the first stage, while Brad Keselowski took the second.

While Harvick celebrated Sunday, others lamented. The race was not without its crashes, as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Jimmie Johnson saw their afternoons end early in disappointing fashion.

Well, that was not ideal. @StenhouseJr crashes early in #TheRealHeroes 400. pic.twitter.com/sjJfazAZEU

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 17, 2020

Heartbreak for @JimmieJohnson!

The 4️⃣8️⃣ crashes while leading in #TheRealHeroes 400! pic.twitter.com/VCskH5nOlg

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 17, 2020

Take another look at what happened to @JimmieJohnson in the closing laps of Stage 1 at @TooToughToTame. pic.twitter.com/rInpuJ35v8

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 17, 2020

It was particularly deflating for Johnson, who was leading at the time.

"What I would do to get that corner back to do it over again."- Jimmie Johnson after his Darlington crash pic.twitter.com/S0TaXYdcXd

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 17, 2020

😑 pic.twitter.com/hoRsa28SZj

— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) May 17, 2020

Byron also had some tough luck after his strong early start to the race.

Trouble for William Byron! Caution is out. pic.twitter.com/XDVCPejOen

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 17, 2020

Overall, NASCAR will view Sunday's unprecedented event as a success. It was undoubtedly strange seeing a race take place without fans in attendance and crew members wearing masks, but after having eight previous events postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, those were necessary precautions and didn't hinder the race in the slightest. 

Racing fans better buckle up, because the action will be coming to their living rooms again soon, with the Darlington Cup Series taking place Wednesday, May 20, the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday, May 24 and the Charlotte Cup Series Wednesday, May 27. 

That's four races in 11 days, for those keeping track at home. After a long hiatus, the next week-and-a-half will be full of Cup Series action. 

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series begins on Sunday with the Daytona 500.

JTG Daugherty Racing will lead the field at the start after new driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took pole, with Hendrick Motorsports' Alex Bowman claiming second on the grid.

NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson races in his final Daytona 500 after announcing he will change disciplines at the end of the season. The 44-year-old starts sixth on the grid and will be hoping to begin his last campaign in style with a third Daytona 500 victory.

                             

Date: Sunday, Feb. 16

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. GMT

TV Schedule: Fox (U.S.), Premier Sports 1 (UK)

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go, Premier Player

Coverage begins on Fox at 11 a.m ET. The full schedule can be found at the speedway's official website.

               

👏 P R A C T I C E 👏

We’re talking about #DAYTONA500 practice 💯 pic.twitter.com/yznVc9iSfk

— Daytona International Speedway (@DAYTONA) February 15, 2020

Stenhouse joined JTG Daugherty Racing after a decade with Roush Fenway Racing ahead of the 2020 season, and his natural aggression is perfectly matched to his latest vehicle.

In conversation with Eric Johnson of Racer, Stenhouse said he's looking forward seeing what he can get out of his new car:

"Yeah, it definitely is a fast car. Any time you qualify that fast, you’re always kind of curious if the car is going to drive good during the race and if it is going to be ale to do the things it needs to do to stay up front, and it definitely did. I was surprised about that, and I think other people were too. It was also a good opportunity for us to show the other competitors and sort of say, ‘Yeah, it’s fast, but it also drives good enough to make the moves that I need to make'."

Stenhouse tweeted about his delight at winning pole position for the race:

Pretty special day yesterday for me and my whole @JTGRacing team. It was a all hands on deck team effort to build the speed into these cars and I’m thankful it worked out to grab the pole for the #greatamericanrace #daytona #daytona500 #shapedlikeabullet pic.twitter.com/EHpOOzmThg

— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) February 10, 2020

His pole might have surprised a few, and the grid positions of Joe Gibbs Racing pair Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch—21st and 28th, respectively—suggest a surprise result could be in the offing.

Hamlin won last year's Daytona 500, and Busch placed second on his way to the Cup Series crown. After the best season of his career, with 19 top-five finishes recorded in 2019, Hamlin will believe he can beat Busch to the Cup Series title.

Elsewhere, there will be plenty of emotion trackside when Johnson takes his place in his final Daytona 500. After a NASCAR career that has seen him become a seven-time Cup Series champion, Johnson will bid farewell to the Great American Race.

Johnson hasn't won a race since June 2017, but his grid position could help him to cause a surprise if he can roll back the years.

Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Erik Jones are among the top sleepers to watch when the annual curtain-raiser to the NASCAR season, the Daytona 500, takes place on February 16.

Denny Hamlin won the Great American Race last year, while Joey Logano and defending NASCAR champion Kyle Busch will be among the favourites at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

There are 43 cars entered into the race, according to Dustin Long of NBC Sports, who also noted how all 36 chartered teams will be given starting positions.

Jones, Busch and Newman all have strong cases to upset the odds.

                     

Erik Jones, Joe Gibbs Racing

Jones can be best described as a mercurial talent. He's got more natural skills than his final position of 16th in last season's standings would indicate.

The 23-year-old's best bet to succeed in Florida comes from his knack for delivering on marquee tracks. He won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in 2018, and Jones has won twice on the Darlington Raceway, including last September.

Jones also earned 10 top-five finishes last season. A good start will see him get among the favourites and upset a few oddsmakers. 

                

Kurt Busch, Chip Ganassi Racing

It took Busch 17 attempts to win the Great American Race, finally achieving the feat in 2017. The 41-year-old still has what it takes to leave younger rivals trailing.

Most of the focus will be on Kyle, but Kurt showed he still has what it takes with his performances last season. Specifically, after taking over the No. 1 Chevrolet car, Busch notched the "first non-restrictor plate win for the No. 1 car since 2010, tripled the team's top-five finish output (six) and raised its year-over-year average finish by nearly six positions," per Athlon Sports.

Busch has the experience and resolve to hold his nerve amid the crowds and intense pressure common in Daytona. If he chooses his moment well, the veteran could make the late surge to power over the line first.

            

Ryan Newman, Roush Fenway Racing

Like Busch, Ryan Newman isn't ready to move on from the sport just yet. The 42-year-old helped Roush Fenway Racing earn more attention during 2019, and a strong showing in Florida would solidify the team's return to prominence.

Newman hasn't won this famous race since 2008, but he has the speed in the No. 6 Ford Mustang to shock a few people. Roush is generally better suited to shorter tracks, but Newman's aggressive style can make the difference in Daytona.

Not many would think such a veteran driver could upset Hamlin, Logano, et al. However, there will be no stronger motivation than taking the checkered flag at the most celebrated event on the calendar for a seasoned winner who still has something left to prove.

The NASCAR Cup Championship Playoffs continue Saturday at Richmond Raceway in Virginia, the second of three races in the round of 16.

Martin Truex Jr. is coming off a win in Las Vegas and won at this track earlier this season, while defending champion Joey Logano is in need of a big result after disappointing in qualifying, finishing 28th.

NBC will provide coverage of the race, which is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are available via StubHub.

Here is a look at the lineup, shared by NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass:

38 Cup cars Richmond. 27-Houff 51-Theriault 52-Smithley 53-Boyd. #nascar pic.twitter.com/n5FU1KmB7t

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 17, 2019

Brad Keselowski will start from pole position, with Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott his closest rivals in qualifying:

It’s double Penske poles at @RichmondRaceway!

Brad @keselowski to lead the field to green tomorrow night!

15th - Ryan @Blaney / @MenardsRacing
28th - @joeylogano / @ShellMotorsport #NASCAR | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/WDt1mQuQvm

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) September 20, 2019

Harvick sits in second place in the playoff standings after the first race of the round of 16, courtesy of his second-placed finish in Las Vegas. He has a three-point deficit to overcome to Truex Jr., while Logano sits third, seven points behind the leader.

The 39-year-old was ecstatic to take the win in Las Vegas to book his spot in the next round:

YES! Awesome way to start the #NASCARPlayoffs!! Unbelievable job by our @BassProShops team! #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/sCyyxPlaOO

— Martin Truex Jr. (@MartinTruex_Jr) September 16, 2019

He will like his chances for repeat success in Richmond after a dominant showing in Las Vegas, where he finished more than four seconds ahead of the pack.

In April, he narrowly beat Logano to the finish line at Richmond, marking his first win on a short track in 81 tries. It was a close call:

He's done it! @MartinTruex_Jr captures his first short-track victory by holding off @joeylogano in Richmond! pic.twitter.com/fwrAol22Lm

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 14, 2019

Further down the field, Kurt Busch needs to put together a run after finishing in last place in Las Vegas. He qualified in ninth place for Saturday's race and is ranked 14th and on the outside looking in for the round of 12, which starts in October.

Denny Hamlin will be another one to watch, as he has three career wins at the track:

Pole-sitter Keselowski finished in third place in Las Vegas and seventh in the spring race at Richmond, so he too will be one to keep an eye on.

                 

Prediction: In-form Harvick secures his spot in the next round with a win at Richmond.

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.