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Track: Pocono Raceway, 2.5-mile tri-oval, Long Pond, Pa.
Pole Winner: Kurt Busch
Pole Time: 52.45 seconds
Pole Speed: 171.579 mph
TV/Radio: SPEED/MRN/SIRIUSXM
No. 34 Taco Bell Ford Qualifying Position: 30th
No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford Qualifying Position: 26th
A rainy weekend forecast welcomed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to the Pocono Mountains this week. Fortunately, the clouds cleared for a full day of practice at Pocono Raceway on Friday, with teams still concerned about a threat of rain for qualifying on Saturday.
Sam Hornish Jr. took to the track for the first time in a Cup car this year, sliding into the No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford for Travis Kvapil while Kvapil competed in the Camping World Truck Series in Texas. Hornish Jr. adapted quickly during Friday's practice sessions, eventually posting the fastest lap of all the cars required to qualify for the race on speed. David Gilliland and his No. 34 Taco Bell team had a good practice day as well, working through some handling issues, which are almost always present for any car throughout the three distinctly different turns of the "Tricky Triangle."
Saturday's forecast looked to bring rain all day, but the rainclouds broke up just long enough to get the qualifying session in. With temperatures much cooler than Friday, the tri-oval was fast and offered a lot of grip. Hornish Jr. successfully qualified the No. 38 Ford into the race, earning the 26th starting position, while his teammate Gilliland qualified in the 30th spot.
Kurt Busch snagged his second pole of the year, edging out Paul Menard, who will complete the front row. Mike Skinner spun and wrecked on his qualifying run and is the only driver who did not make the starting field.
TNT begins its six-race stint covering the Sprint Cup Series with Sunday's 5-Hour ENERGY 500. Race coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET. | 
