After a number of drivers had posted qualifying times, rain started to fall on Kentucky Speedway, putting a hold on and eventually cancelling the time trials. As a result, Kyle Busch (LEFT, with Joey Logano) will start on pole for the Quaker State 400, the inaugural Sprint Cup race at the 1.5-mile oval in Sparta after the field was set based on practice times and owner points.
Qualifying was underway and 22 out of 48 cars had already completed their runs when rain caused the session to be halted. Although the rain stopped temporarily, it would later return forcing officials to cancel the session.
According to the new NASCAR rules, times from official practice determined the starting order for Saturday night's event. Joe Gibbs Racing Kyle Busch had been fastest in the open test day on Thursday before claiming victory in the Truck series race later in the evening, but it was his quickest lap from Friday's lone official practice session which placed him on pole for the first time this season.
Juan Montoya will start alongside Busch, with the polesitter's brother, Kurt, on the inside of the second row and Kasey Kahne starting fourth.
Carl Edwards was the fastest Ford in practice and will see the green flag wave from seventh on the grid, beside last weekend's race winner, his Roush Fenway team-mate David Ragan.
Three-time Kentucky Nationwide Series winner Joey Logano will start 15th, while points leader Kevin Harvick will line up 19th. Brian Vickers and Mark Martin where first and second when the session was stopped and they will line up side-by-side on the 14th row of the grid.
Joe Nemechek was the fastest of the non-guaranteed drivers in practice and will start from 31st. Local hero Michael Waltrip had already locked himself in the field on speed but given that he had only made two previous qualifying attempts this year, he lost his automatic place in the field.
David Stremme, T.J. Bell, Michael Waltrip, David Starr and Robby Gordon were left with no shot to make Saturday night's race.
Starting Lineup, Quaker State 400
Pos. Driver Make
1 Kyle Busch Toyota
2 Juan Montoya Chevrolet
3 Kurt Busch Dodge
4 Kasey Kahne Toyota
5 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet
6 Brad Keselowski Dodge
7 Carl Edwards Ford
8 David Ragan Ford
9 Tony Stewart Chevrolet
10 Paul Menard Chevrolet
11 Marcos Ambrose Ford
12 Regan Smith Chevrolet
13 Matt Kenseth Ford
14 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet
15 Joey Logano Toyota
16 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota
17 David Reutimann Toyota
18 Ryan Newman Chevrolet
19 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet
20 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet
21 Greg Biffle Ford
22 Jeff Burton Chevrolet
23 A.J. Allmendinger Ford
24 Bobby Labonte Toyota
25 Casey Mears Toyota
26 Denny Hamlin Toyota
27 Brian Vickers Toyota
28 Mark Martin Chevrolet
29 Dale Earnhardt Jr.Chevrolet
30 Landon Cassill Chevrolet
31 Joe Nemechek Toyota
32 Dave Blaney Chevrolet
33 Mike Skinner Toyota
34 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet
35 David Gilliland Ford
36 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet
38 Travis Kvapil Ford
38 Michael McDowell Toyota
39 Andy Lally Ford
40 Scott Riggs Chevrolet
41 Tony Raines Ford
42 Mike Bliss Ford
43 Scott Wimmer Dodge
Did Not Qualify: David Stremme; Michael Waltrip; T.J. Bell; David Starr;
Robby Gordon.