Kyle Larson's Hot Streak Continues as He Wins Fontana Pole

Jerry Markland/Getty Images Sport

FONTANA, CA – RIS – Kyle Larson won the pole for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race at Auto Club Speedway.  It came as no great surprise that Larson won the pole.  After all, Larson’s No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet clearly was the fastest car on the 2-mile track all day. He also was at the top of the speed chart for Friday’s lone Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice. He has been on a roll since the beginning of the season.

Larson earned his first pole of the season — and the second of his career — with a fast lap of 187.047 miles per hour in the final round of qualifying. Starting alongside him on the front row Sunday will be Denny Hamlin, who was second-fastest at 186.979 mph in Round 3.

Rounding out the top five in qualifying were Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman.

“I’m really happy for our Target team,” Larson said. “It has been amazing to start the season and to get a pole is great. I haven’t gotten a pole since my rookie season. So yeah, this is awesome. I can’t say enough about everybody at our race shop for all the hard work they have been putting in.

“We’ve got a little team dinner tonight, so this will be a good way to celebrate.”

Five drivers did not even attempt qualifying — one by choice and four because their cars did not clear pre-qualifying inspection in time.

Jimmie Johnson, who owns a record six wins at Auto Club Speedway, was the driver who elected not to attempt qualifying after going to a backup car and not being able to get it on track in time for any practice. He tore up his primary car when he lost control of it and slid through the infield grass during Friday’s lone practice session.

 The four drivers who could not get on track for qualifying because their cars didn’t clear inspection in time were Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, Matt DiBenedetto and Gray Gaulding.

Starting Line Up: Auto Club Speedway: 21st Annual Auto Club 400
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Kyle Larson, No. 42 Target Chevrolet, 38.493, 187.047
2) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota, 38.507, 186.979
3) Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Wurth Ford, 38.606, 186.500
4) Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, 38.630, 186.384
5) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, 38.684, 186.123
6) Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Peak Toyota, 38.702, 186.037
7) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Beer Ford, 38.710, 185.998
8) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 McDonald's Chevrolet, 38.768, 185.720
9) Kyle Busch, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 38.835, 185.400
10) Daniel Suarez #, No. 19 Subway Toyota, 38.958, 184.814
11) Austin Dillon, No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet, 38.980, 184.710
12) Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, 39.139, 183.960
13) Chase Elliott, No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet, 38.954, 184.833
14) Erik Jones #, No. 77 Toyota Service Centers Toyota, 38.973, 184.743
15) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, 39.005, 184.592
16) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Fastenal 50th Anniversary Ford, 39.050, 184.379
17) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers Ford, 39.152, 183.899
18) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet, 39.180, 183.767
19) Ryan Blaney, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 39.207, 183.641
20) Chris Buescher, No. 37 Bush's Beans Chevrolet, 39.286, 183.271
21) Ty Dillon #, No. 13 Twisted Tea Chevrolet, 39.322, 183.104
22) Danica Patrick, No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford, 39.341, 183.015
23) Paul Menard, No. 27 Jack Links/Menards Chevrolet, 39.217, 183.594
24) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 39.240, 183.486
25) Michael McDowell, No. 95 LFR Woodie Chevrolet, 39.408, 182.704
26) Landon Cassill, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 39.409, 182.699
27) David Ragan, No. 38 Camping World/Good Sam Ford, 39.640, 181.635
28) Cole Whitt, No. 72 Southern California Chevy Dealers Chevrolet, 39.708, 181.324
29) Reed Sorenson, No. 15 VIPRacingExperience.com Toyota, 40.028, 179.874
30) Corey LaJoie #, No. 83 Bubba Burger Toyota, 40.039, 179.825
31) Aric Almirola, No. 43 Smithfield Ford, 40.948, 175.833
32) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 33 K1Speed Chevrolet, 41.128, 175.063
33) Derrike Cope, No. 55 Chevrolet, 41.455, 173.682
34) Timmy Hill(i), No. 51 Bubba Burger Chevrolet, 41.783, 172.319
35) Joey Logano, No. 22 AAA Southern California Ford, 0.000, 0.000
36) Trevor Bayne, No. 6 AdvoCare Ford, 0.000, 0.000
37) Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000
38) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 32 Can-Am/Kappa Ford, 0.000, 0.000
39) Gray Gaulding #, No. 23 SunFrog.com Toyota, 0.000, 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series; # = Rookie     Attachments area