Jimmie Johnson Wins Cup Pole at Texas Motor Speedway

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FORT WORTH, TX – RIS – Jimmie Johnson won his first pole in three years by conquering qualifying for the Sunday Monster Energy Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.   Johnson was at the top of the charts for all three qualifying segments. Johnson turned a lap of 188.890 mph in the final round to win the 36th pole of his career.

“It’s been a long couple of years and we still have a long ways to go,” Johnson said. “Certainly, race day is much more important than Friday. But we’re working so hard. I think we’re a bit guilty of trying too hard and maybe stepping outside of our comfort zone at times and putting setups in the car that just quite aren’t proven yet.”

William Byron will start second to give Hendrick Motorsports the front row.

“Teamwork, it’s awesome,” Byron said of the Hendrick crew working together in the draft.

Chase Elliott made it 1-2-3 for Hendrick with Daniel Suarez and Austin Dillon rounding out the top five.

Denny Hamlin, Daniel Hemric, Joey Logano, Ty Dillon and Bubba Wallace completed the first 10 quThe session was the first since NASCAR tweaked qualifying rules and announced any driver not posting an official lap during a session would start the race from the rear of the field. There was also an edict to not block or impede other cars from leaving the pit lane, a rule Clint Bowyer wasn’t enforced properly when he got blocked in.

“Learn from your mistakes,” Bowyer said as part of an angry response to the situation. “That’s how you get better. Learn from your mistakes. We already had this failure and here we are doing it again. Come on.”

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams still have to practice sessions on Saturday to dial their cars in for Sunday’s seventh race of the season.

Time Trial Results: 23rd Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts 500, Texas Motor Speedway

Track Qualifying Record: Kurt Busch: 11/05/17; 26.877 sec; 200.915 mph

Round 1
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap, Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Jimmie Johnson, 48, Ally Chevrolet, 28.628, 188.627, 2, 2, 0.000, 0.000
2) Erik Jones, 20, Craftsman Toyota, 28.696, 188.180, 4, 4, 0.068, 0.068
3) Austin Dillon, 3, Realtree Chevrolet, 28.704, 188.127, 2, 2, 0.076, 0.008
4) Ryan Blaney, 12, Menards/Cardell Cabinetry Ford, 28.729, 187.963, 4, 4, 0.101, 0.025
5) William Byron, 24, Axalta/Primeline Chevrolet, 28.786, 187.591, 5, 5, 0.158, 0.057
6) Daniel Suarez, 41, Ruckus Ford, 28.819, 187.376, 2, 2, 0.191, 0.033
7) Chase Elliott, 9, Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, 28.862, 187.097, 4, 4, 0.234, 0.043
8) Ryan Newman, 6, Wyndham Rewards Ford, 28.869, 187.052, 4, 4, 0.241, 0.007
9) Daniel Hemric #, 8, Bulwark FR/Wayne Workwear Chevrolet, 28.877, 187.000, 1, 3, 0.249, 0.008
10) Aric Almirola, 10, Smithfield Prime Fresh Ford, 28.886, 186.942, 4, 4, 0.258, 0.009
11) Kyle Busch, 18, Interstate Batteries Toyota, 28.888, 186.929, 4, 4, 0.260, 0.002
12) Martin Truex Jr., 19, Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 28.914, 186.761, 4, 4, 0.286, 0.026
13) Ty Dillon, 13, Twisted Tea Chevrolet, 28.915, 186.754, 5, 5, 0.287, 0.001
14) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 17, Fastenal Ford, 28.922, 186.709, 4, 4, 0.294, 0.007
15) Bubba Wallace, 43, World Wide Technology Chevrolet, 28.922, 186.709, 4, 4, 0.294, 0.000
16) Chris Buescher, 37, Kroger Speed Up Your Cleanup Chevrolet, 28.948, 186.541, 4, 4, 0.320, 0.026
17) Michael McDowell, 34, Love's Travel Stops Ford, 28.954, 186.503, 4, 4, 0.326, 0.006
18) Alex Bowman, 88, LLumar Chevrolet, 28.992, 186.258, 1, 1, 0.364, 0.038
19) Joey Logano, 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 28.996, 186.233, 3, 4, 0.368, 0.004
20) Kevin Harvick, 4, Mobil 1/O'Reilly Auto Parts Ford, 29.011, 186.136, 4, 4, 0.383, 0.015
21) Brad Keselowski, 2, Miller Lite Ford, 29.016, 186.104, 4, 4, 0.388, 0.005
22) Paul Menard, 21, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 29.067, 185.778, 2, 2, 0.439, 0.051
23) Denny Hamlin, 11, FedEx Office Toyota, 29.068, 185.771, 4, 4, 0.440, 0.001
24) Kyle Larson, 42, Credit One Bank Chevrolet, 29.070, 185.759, 4, 4, 0.442, 0.002
25) Clint Bowyer, 14, Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford, 29.096, 185.593, 4, 4, 0.468, 0.026
26) Matt DiBenedetto, 95, Procore Toyota, 29.110, 185.503, 4, 4, 0.482, 0.014
27) Ryan Preece #, 47, Kroger Chevrolet, 29.164, 185.160, 4, 4, 0.536, 0.054
28) David Ragan, 38, MDS Transport Ford, 29.265, 184.521, 4, 4, 0.637, 0.101
29) Matt Tifft #, 36, Surface Sunscreen/Tunity Ford, 29.265, 184.521, 1, 4, 0.637, 0.000
30) Kurt Busch, 1, GEARWRENCH Chevrolet, 29.283, 184.407, 3, 4, 0.655, 0.018
31) Corey LaJoie, 32, PROSPR Ford, 29.305, 184.269, 4, 4, 0.677, 0.022
32) Landon Cassill, 00, USFRA Chevrolet, 29.429, 183.492, 2, 2, 0.801, 0.124
33) Parker Kligerman(i), 96, Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota, 29.549, 182.747, 3, 4, 0.921, 0.120
34) BJ McLeod(i), 51, Jacob Companies Chevrolet, 29.844, 180.941, 2, 2, 1.216, 0.295
35) Ross Chastain(i), 15, Rim Riderz Chevrolet, 29.987, 180.078, 1, 1, 1.359, 0.143
36) Bayley Currey(i), 52, Trick Shot Penetrating Lubricant Ford, 30.235, 178.601, 2, 2, 1.607, 0.248
37) Reed Sorenson, 27, Soloman Plumbing Chevrolet, 30.513, 176.974, 1, 1, 1.885, 0.278
38) Garrett Smithley(i), 77, Trophy Tracker Chevrolet, 30.530, 176.875, 2, 2, 1.902, 0.017
39) Timmy Hill(i), 66,  Toyota, 31.416, 171.887, 2, 2, 2.788, 0.886
*Required to qualify on time, OP - Top 30 in Owner Points, PC - Past Champion,(i)Ineligible for driver points in this series

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Jimmie Johnson, 48, Ally Chevrolet, 28.730, 187.957, 2, 2, 0.000, 0.000
2) Daniel Hemric #, 8, Bulwark FR/Wayne Workwear Chevrolet, 28.736, 187.918, 1, 1, 0.006, 0.006
3) Joey Logano, 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 28.743, 187.872, 2, 2, 0.013, 0.007
4) Daniel Suarez, 41, Ruckus Ford, 28.743, 187.872, 2, 2, 0.013, 0.000
5) Denny Hamlin, 11, FedEx Office Toyota, 28.816, 187.396, 1, 1, 0.086, 0.073
6) Brad Keselowski, 2, Miller Lite Ford, 28.847, 187.195, 1, 1, 0.117, 0.031
7) Austin Dillon, 3, Realtree Chevrolet, 28.856, 187.136, 2, 2, 0.126, 0.009
8) William Byron, 24, Axalta/Primeline Chevrolet, 28.869, 187.052, 2, 2, 0.139, 0.013
9) Bubba Wallace, 43, World Wide Technology Chevrolet, 28.884, 186.955, 1, 1, 0.154, 0.015
10) Ty Dillon, 13, Twisted Tea Chevrolet, 28.896, 186.877, 1, 2, 0.166, 0.012
11) Chase Elliott, 9, Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, 28.899, 186.858, 2, 2, 0.169, 0.003
12) Erik Jones, 20, Craftsman Toyota, 28.908, 186.800, 1, 2, 0.178, 0.009
13) Ryan Blaney, 12, Menards/Cardell Cabinetry Ford, 28.927, 186.677, 2, 2, 0.197, 0.019
14) Paul Menard, 21, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 28.937, 186.612, 2, 2, 0.207, 0.010
15) Michael McDowell, 34, Love's Travel Stops Ford, 28.964, 186.438, 2, 2, 0.234, 0.027
16) Kyle Busch, 18, Interstate Batteries Toyota, 28.971, 186.393, 2, 2, 0.241, 0.007
17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 17, Fastenal Ford, 28.971, 186.393, 1, 2, 0.241, 0.000
18) Ryan Newman, 6, Wyndham Rewards Ford, 29.005, 186.175, 2, 2, 0.275, 0.034
19) Chris Buescher, 37, Kroger Speed Up Your Cleanup Chevrolet, 29.016, 186.104, 1, 1, 0.286, 0.011
20) Martin Truex Jr., 19, Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 29.161, 185.179, 1, 2, 0.431, 0.145
21) Aric Almirola, 10, Smithfield Prime Fresh Ford, 29.226, 184.767, 1, 1, 0.496, 0.065
22) Kyle Larson, 42, Credit One Bank Chevrolet, 29.282, 184.414, 1, 1, 0.552, 0.056
23) Kevin Harvick, 4, Mobil 1/O'Reilly Auto Parts Ford, 30.135, 179.194, 1, 1, 1.405, 0.853
24) Alex Bowman, 88, LLumar Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----
*Required to qualify on time, OP - Top 30 in Owner Points, PC - Past Champion
(i)Ineligible for driver points in this series

Round 3
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Jimmie Johnson, 48, Ally Chevrolet, 28.588, 188.890, 2, 2, 0.000, 0.000
2) William Byron, 24, Axalta/Primeline Chevrolet, 28.660, 188.416, 2, 2, 0.072, 0.072
3) Chase Elliott, 9, Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, 28.682, 188.271, 1, 1, 0.094, 0.022
4) Daniel Suarez, 41, Ruckus Ford, 28.741, 187.885, 2, 2, 0.153, 0.059
5) Austin Dillon, 3, Realtree Chevrolet, 28.862, 187.097, 1, 2, 0.274, 0.121
6) Denny Hamlin, 11, FedEx Office Toyota, 28.895, 186.884, 2, 2, 0.307, 0.033
7) Daniel Hemric #, 8, Bulwark FR/Wayne Workwear Chevrolet, 28.905, 186.819, 1, 1, 0.317, 0.010
8) Joey Logano, 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 28.928, 186.670, 1, 2, 0.340, 0.023
9) Ty Dillon, 13, Twisted Tea Chevrolet, 28.956, 186.490, 1, 1, 0.368, 0.028
10) Bubba Wallace, 43, World Wide Technology Chevrolet, 28.990, 186.271, 1, 1, 0.402, 0.034
11) Erik Jones, 20, Craftsman Toyota, 29.071, 185.752, 2, 2, 0.483, 0.081
12) Brad Keselowski, 2, Miller Lite Ford, 29.412, 183.599, 1, 1, 0.824, 0.341

Starting Line Up: 23rd Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts 500, Texas Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Jimmie Johnson, 48, Ally Chevrolet, 28.588, 188.890
2) William Byron, 24, Axalta/Primeline Chevrolet, 28.660, 188.416
3) Chase Elliott, 9, Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, 28.682, 188.271
4) Daniel Suarez, 41, Ruckus Ford, 28.741, 187.885
5) Austin Dillon, 3, Realtree Chevrolet, 28.862, 187.097
6) Denny Hamlin, 11, FedEx Office Toyota, 28.895, 186.884
7) Daniel Hemric #, 8, Bulwark FR/Wayne Workwear Chevrolet, 28.905, 186.819
8) Joey Logano, 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 28.928, 186.670
9) Ty Dillon, 13, Twisted Tea Chevrolet, 28.956, 186.490
10) Bubba Wallace, 43, World Wide Technology Chevrolet, 28.990, 186.271
11) Erik Jones, 20, Craftsman Toyota, 29.071, 185.752
12) Brad Keselowski, 2, Miller Lite Ford, 29.412, 183.599
13) Ryan Blaney, 12, Menards/Cardell Cabinetry Ford, 28.927, 186.677
14) Paul Menard, 21, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 28.937, 186.612
15) Michael McDowell, 34, Love's Travel Stops Ford, 28.964, 186.438
16) Kyle Busch, 18, Interstate Batteries Toyota, 28.971, 186.393
17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 17, Fastenal Ford, 28.971, 186.393
18) Ryan Newman, 6, Wyndham Rewards Ford, 29.005, 186.175
19) Chris Buescher, 37, Kroger Speed Up Your Cleanup Chevrolet, 29.016, 186.104
20) Martin Truex Jr., 19, Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 29.161, 185.179
21) Aric Almirola, 10, Smithfield Prime Fresh Ford, 29.226, 184.767
22) Kyle Larson, 42, Credit One Bank Chevrolet, 29.282, 184.414
23) Kevin Harvick, 4, Mobil 1/O'Reilly Auto Parts Ford, 30.135, 179.194
24) Alex Bowman, 88, LLumar Chevrolet, 28.992, 186.258
25) Clint Bowyer, 14, Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford, 29.096, 185.593
26) Matt DiBenedetto, 95, Procore Toyota, 29.110, 185.503
27) Ryan Preece #, 47, Kroger Chevrolet, 29.164, 185.160
28) David Ragan, 38, MDS Transport Ford, 29.265, 184.521
29) Matt Tifft #, 36, Surface Sunscreen/Tunity Ford, 29.265, 184.521
30) Kurt Busch, 1, GEARWRENCH Chevrolet, 29.283, 184.407
31) Corey LaJoie, 32, PROSPR Ford, 29.305, 184.269
32) Landon Cassill, 00, USFRA Chevrolet, 29.429, 183.492
33) Parker Kligerman(i), 96, Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota, 29.549, 182.747
34) BJ McLeod(i), 51, Jacob Companies Chevrolet, 29.844, 180.941
35) Ross Chastain(i), 15, Rim Riderz Chevrolet, 29.987, 180.078
36) Bayley Currey(i), 52, Trick Shot Penetrating Lubricant Ford, 30.235, 178.601
37) Reed Sorenson, 27, Soloman Plumbing Chevrolet, 30.513, 176.974
38) Garrett Smithley(i), 77, Trophy Tracker Chevrolet, 30.530, 176.875
39) Timmy Hill(i), 66,  Toyota, 31.416, 171.887
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

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