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Edwards Hustles To Cup Pole At Watkins Glen

Carl Edwards poses with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International. [Credit: Matt Sullivan/Getty Images]

Carl Edwards poses with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International. [Credit: Matt Sullivan/Getty Images]

By Joe Jennings

Watkins Glen, N. Y. – With a last minute burst of speed, Carl Edwards hustled his Stanley Toyota to the pole position for Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen. The Missouri native zipped around the 2.45-mile road course at a speed of 126.562 miles per hour to earn his 20th career pole, the fourth of the 2016 season and the second here.

Having gained the pole at the Sonoma Raceway, Edwards swept the poles for the two road course races this season.
“I wasn’t sure if I had a pole car,” Edwards said. “You know the track is a little strange. It started out really slippery on the first run. I’m just really proud of my guys and everybody on this Stanley Toyota team. Dave Wilson from TRD (Toyota Racing Development, president) just came down. They’re a huge part of this. My teammates are really fast. Kyle (Busch) is really fast and Martin’s (Truex Jr.) is really fast. You’ve got to work a little bit in race trim, but we’re starting upfront. We’ve got a great pit crew and hopefully we can put that Stanley in victory lane.”

Kyle Larson had to settle for second fast after the fast run by Edwards. Larson’s speed in the Target Chevrolet was 126.233 mph.

Five-time Glen winner Tony Stewart clocked in third followed by Matt Kenseth, Toyota teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin.

Rounding out the top-12 qualifiers were Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, A. J. Allmendinger, Jamie McMurray, road racer Michael McDowell and Brad Keselowski.

Missing from the top-12 were any of the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Jimmie Johnson registered 13th, Chase Elliott 16th, Jeff Gordon 21st and Kasey Kahne 23rd.

Sunday’s race will be shown on the USA channel at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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