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Brad Keselowski sped to the Coors Light Pole Award in Friday afternoon qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky Speedway.
Keselowski, a two-time Kentucky winner in Nationwide competition, recorded a lap of 175.313 mph in the Team Penske No. 22 Ford. It is his second Coors Light Pole Award in five Nationwide appearances this season.
Kyle Busch, a three-time Nationwide winner this season, was second-fastest at 174.250 mph in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 Toyota. He’ll start alongside Keselowski on the front row in Friday night’s John R. Elliott Hero Campaign 300 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Paul Menard, Matt Kenseth and Brian Scott completed the top five. Brendan Gaughan, last week’s winner in the Nationwide Series at Road America, was last among the 12 drivers to advance to the final, five-minute stage of knockout qualifying on the 1.5-mile track.
Ryan Blaney clocked a 175.507 mph lap to top the 10-minute second session, leading Keselowski in a Team Penske 1-2 in that segment. Chase Elliott forged his way into the final 12-driver cutoff with a last-minute lap that left Trevor Bayne 13th and NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader Regan Smith 14th.
