Joey Logano wins pole at Michigan

Joey Logano will start on the front row for the second-straight week.

Logano posted the fastest lap in the final two rounds of qualifying at Michigan on Friday and will start first for Sunday’s race. Logano beat out Martin Truex Jr. and Tony Stewart for the top spot. Logano started second to teammate Brad Keselowski at Pocono.

The Michigan race is the first of two races this season where NASCAR is enforcing rules that lower the downforce on cars; the front splitters are smaller and the spoilers are shorter. The rear skew rules that were in effect for the All-Star Race are also in effect at Michigan.

The goal is to slow the cars down in the corners and make for more passing opportunities. Slow is relative at Michigan. Logano turned a lap of 199.557 MPH in the final round. The speed is approximately 2 MPH slower than last June’s pole speed, though speeds during Friday’s practice came close to last year’s qualifying number.

Friday’s practice, however, was held under cloudy skies while qualifying was under sunny skies and warmer temperatures. But if it’s a cool day on Sunday, watch out for some wicked fast speeds. Carl Edwards was clocked at 218 MPH entering turn 1 on a practice lap Friday morning.

The forecast for Sunday afternoon is for highs in the upper 70s and sunny skies. That should be good for the racing. With a hot track, drivers will be required to finesse the cars in the corners.

1. Joey Logano
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Tony Stewart
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Ryan Blaney
6. Ryan Newman
7. Kyle Larson
8. Austin Dillon
9. Kyle Busch
10. Chase Elliott
11. Carl Edwards
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
13. Trevor Bayne
14. Jamie McMurray
15. Brad Keselowski
16. Jimmie Johnson
17. Kurt Busch
18. Greg Biffle
19. Matt Kenseth
20. AJ Allmendinger
21. Ty Dillon
22. Chris Buescher
23. Kasey Kahne
24. Casey Mears
25. Danica Patrick
26. Brian Scott
27. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
28. Landon Cassill
29. Kevin Harvick
30. Aric Almirola
31. Matt DiBenedetto
32. Paul Menard
33. Regan Smith
34. Clint Bowyer
35. David Ragan
36. Cole Whitt
37. Josh Wise
38. Jeffrey Earnhardt
39. Michael Annett
40. Reed Sorenson