Carl Edwards beats AJ Allmendinger for pole at Sonoma

Carl Edwards looks like he’s a heavy favorite at Sonoma.

Edwards was fast in both practice sessions Friday and put up the fastest lap of Saturday’s qualifying session in both the first and second rounds, beating AJ Allmendinger for the pole.

Allmendinger, the pole winner last season, provisionally posted the fastest lap of the final round. But then Edwards knocked him off the top spot and no one else was even close. Edwards got the top spot with a great turn 11, the final turn (a hairpin) on the 2-mile road course.

Allmendinger, who won at Watkins Glen in 2014 to make the Chase, was considered the favorite last year after he started first. But he had mechanical issues and ended up 37th, 12 laps down.

Edwards got his first road course win the same season. He won at Sonoma. His pole Saturday is his third of the season; the most of anyone in the Cup Series.

Here’s how the field will line up on Sunday. Cody Ware, attempting to make the race in the No. 55 car, missed the race.

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