2013 Darlington NASCAR: Cup qualifying

He might have been going 35mph slower than he had been just 24 hours earlier at Indianapolis, but a time of 27.032s (181.918mph) was still fast enough to set a new track record at Darlington Speedway on Friday afternoon during qualifying for this weekend's Southern 500.

The previous track record was 181.254mph set by Kasey Kahne. It's Busch's 16th pole in 446 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and his first of 2013 - in fact his first in almost two years - and means he's now eligible for the 2013 Sprint All-Star race at Daytona.

"I was real fast in 1 and 2. Maybe I left a little bit on the table getting into 3, but it didn't feel that fast," said Busch, perhaps feeling the after effects of racing at nearly 220-mph at Indianapolis Motorspeedway in an IndyCar the day before. "When it doesn't, that means the car was stuck really well.

"That's just a tribute to these Furniture Row guys, the confidence they had coming here this weekend," he added. "All the changes we made in practice, all of them made sense. Sometimes we took a step back; sometimes we took a step forward, but we had a distinct definition on each of the changes so the car has been feeling pretty good."

Jimmie Johnson will start alongside him on the front row, narrowly preventing an all-Busch line-up - which would have suited Gayle Busch down to the ground as Saturday night's race takes place on the weekend of Mothering Sunday in the US. Instead Kyle Busch was eight thousandths slower than the five-time champ and will have to start from third place instead, alongside Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports team mate Kasey Kahne.

All 43 cars qualified for the grid. Danica Patrick made her run in the backup car after hitting the wall in the first of the day's two practice sessions: "I just got loose into 2," she explained. "I wish it would have been a Darlington stripe instead of going to a backup, but lesson learned for tomorrow night and I'll be better for it."

Qualifying times

1. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 27.032s (Pole) 181.918mph
2. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 27.173s (+ 0.141s) 180.974mph
3. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 27.181s (+ 0.149s) 180.920mph
4. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 27.208s (+ 0.176s) 180.741mph
5. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 27.277s (+ 0.245s) 180.284mph
6. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 27.296s (+ 0.264s) 180.158mph
7. #20 Matt Kenseth Toyota 27.303s (+ 0.271s) 180.112mph
8. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 27.304s (+ 0.272s) 180.105mph
9. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 27.320s (+ 0.288s) 180.000mph
10. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 27.355s (+ 0.323s) 179.770mph
11. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 27.368s (+ 0.336s) 179.684mph
12. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chevrolet 27.376s (+ 0.344s) 179.632mph
13. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 27.381s (+ 0.349s) 179.599mph
14. #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 27.394s (+ 0.362s) 179.514mph
15. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 27.401s (+ 0.369s) 179.468mph
16. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 27.410s (+ 0.378s) 179.409mph
17. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 27.472s (+ 0.440s) 179.004mph
18. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 27.500s (+ 0.468s) 178.822mph
19. #13 Casey Mears Ford 27.501s (+ 0.469s) 178.815mph
20. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 27.511s (+ 0.479s) 178.750mph
21. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 27.550s (+ 0.518s) 178.497mph
22. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 27.578s (+ 0.546s) 178.316mph
23. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 27.593s (+ 0.561s) 178.219mph
24. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 27.630s (+ 0.598s) 177.980mph
25. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 27.631s (+ 0.599s) 177.974mph
26. #2 Brad Keselowski Ford 27.633s (+ 0.601s) 177.961mph
27. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 27.635s (+ 0.603s) 177.948mph
28. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 27.669s (+ 0.637s) 177.730mph
29. #38 David Gilliland Ford 27.676s (+ 0.644s) 177.685mph
30. #22 Joey Logano Ford 27.681s (+ 0.649s) 177.653mph
31. #34 David Ragan Ford 27.682s (+ 0.650s) 177.646mph
32. #33 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 27.736s (+ 0.704s) 177.300mph
33. #83 David Reutimann Toyota 27.775s (+ 0.743s) 177.051mph
34. #35 Josh Wise Ford 27.835s (+ 0.803s) 176.670mph
35. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 27.837s (+ 0.805s) 176.657mph
36. #95 Scott Speed Ford 27.884s (+ 0.852s) 176.359mph
37. #7 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 27.954s (+ 0.922s) 175.918mph
38. #19 Mike Bliss Toyota 27.961s (+ 0.929s) 175.874mph
39. #30 David Stremme Toyota 27.981s (+ 0.949s) 175.748mph
40. #10 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 28.014s (+ 0.982s) 175.541mph
41. #32 Timmy Hill Ford 28.080s (+ 1.048s) 175.128mph
42. #36 JJ Yeley Chevrolet 28.083s (+ 1.051s) 175.109mph
43. #87 Joe Nemechek Toyota 28.315s (+ 1.283s) 173.675mph

Practice 2 times

1. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chevrolet 27.772s (Leader) 177.070mph (5 laps)
2. #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 27.813s (-0.041s) 176.809mph (5 laps)
3. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 27.855s (-0.083s) 176.543mph (5 laps)
4. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 27.863s (-0.091s) 176.492mph (5 laps)
5. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 27.942s (-0.170s) 175.993mph (6 laps)
6. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 27.943s (-0.171s) 175.987mph (5 laps)
7. #20 Matt Kenseth Toyota 27.945s (-0.173s) 175.974mph (5 laps)
8. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 27.967s (-0.195s) 175.836mph (7 laps)
9. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 27.971s (-0.199s) 175.811mph (14 laps)
10. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 27.976s (-0.204s) 175.779mph (4 laps)
11. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 28.004s (-0.232s) 175.603mph (5 laps)
12. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 28.016s (-0.244s) 175.528mph (5 laps)
13. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 28.041s (-0.269s) 175.372mph (20 laps)
14. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 28.107s (-0.335s) 174.960mph (24 laps)
15. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 28.126s (-0.354s) 174.842mph (5 laps)
16. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 28.129s (-0.357s) 174.823mph (3 laps)
17. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 28.152s (-0.380s) 174.680mph (5 laps)
18. #22 Joey Logano Ford 28.154s (-0.382s) 174.668mph (8 laps)
19. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 28.177s (-0.405s) 174.525mph (22 laps)
20. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 28.196s (-0.424s) 174.408mph (7 laps)
21. #13 Casey Mears Ford 28.208s (-0.436s) 174.334mph (16 laps)
22. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 28.226s (-0.454s) 174.222mph (8 laps)
23. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 28.227s (-0.455s) 174.216mph (5 laps)
24. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 28.263s (-0.491s) 173.994mph (8 laps)
25. #95 Scott Speed Ford 28.296s (-0.524s) 173.791mph (3 laps)
26. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 28.323s (-0.551s) 173.626mph (31 laps)
27. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 28.349s (-0.577s) 173.466mph (5 laps)
28. #33 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 28.385s (-0.613s) 173.246mph (9 laps)
29. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 28.392s (-0.620s) 173.204mph (5 laps)
30. #83 David Reutimann Toyota 28.441s (-0.669s) 172.905mph (4 laps)
31. #2 Brad Keselowski Ford 28.480s (-0.708s) 172.669mph (19 laps)
32. #35 Josh Wise Ford 28.517s (-0.745s) 172.445mph (15 laps)
33. #34 David Ragan Ford 28.535s (-0.763s) 172.336mph (15 laps)
34. #38 David Gilliland Ford 28.551s (-0.779s) 172.239mph (8 laps)
35. #19 Mike Bliss Toyota 28.840s (-1.068s) 170.513mph (1 laps)
36. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 29.011s (-1.239s) 169.508mph (1 laps)
37. #30 David Stremme Toyota 29.095s (-1.323s) 169.019mph (5 laps)
38. #10 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 29.140s (-1.368s) 168.758mph (18 laps)
39. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 29.182s (-1.410s) 168.515mph (6 laps)
40. #32 Timmy Hill Ford 29.243s (-1.471s) 168.163mph (4 laps)
41. #7 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 29.455s (-1.683s) 166.953mph (19 laps)
42. #36 JJ Yeley Chevrolet 29.566s (-1.794s) 166.326mph (10 laps)

Practice 1 times

1. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 28.268s (Leader) 173.963mph (58 laps)
2. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 28.323s (-0.055s) 173.626mph (54 laps)
3. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 28.436s (-0.168s) 172.936mph (52 laps)
4. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 28.492s (-0.224s) 172.596mph (52 laps)
5. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 28.511s (-0.243s) 172.481mph (48 laps)
6. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 28.541s (-0.273s) 172.299mph (68 laps)
7. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 28.547s (-0.279s) 172.263mph (51 laps)
8. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chevrolet 28.549s (-0.281s) 172.251mph (43 laps)
9. #20 Matt Kenseth Toyota 28.575s (-0.307s) 172.094mph (51 laps)
10. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 28.577s (-0.309s) 172.082mph (53 laps)
11. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 28.615s (-0.347s) 171.854mph (42 laps)
12. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 28.615s (-0.347s) 171.854mph (46 laps)
13. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 28.626s (-0.358s) 171.788mph (50 laps)
14. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 28.631s (-0.363s) 171.758mph (43 laps)
15. #13 Casey Mears Ford 28.719s (-0.451s) 171.232mph (56 laps)
16. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 28.727s (-0.459s) 171.184mph (61 laps)
17. #22 Joey Logano Ford 28.730s (-0.462s) 171.166mph (68 laps)
18. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 28.734s (-0.466s) 171.142mph (4 laps)
19. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 28.748s (-0.480s) 171.059mph (38 laps)
20. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 28.771s (-0.503s) 170.922mph (52 laps)
21. #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 28.777s (-0.509s) 170.886mph (40 laps)
22. #2 Brad Keselowski Ford 28.778s (-0.510s) 170.881mph (67 laps)
23. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 28.784s (-0.516s) 170.845mph (70 laps)
24. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 28.824s (-0.556s) 170.608mph (57 laps)
25. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 28.859s (-0.591s) 170.401mph (57 laps)
26. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 28.893s (-0.625s) 170.200mph (44 laps)
27. #95 Scott Speed Ford 28.907s (-0.639s) 170.118mph (4 laps)
28. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 28.907s (-0.639s) 170.118mph (31 laps)
29. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 28.943s (-0.675s) 169.906mph (55 laps)
30. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 29.066s (-0.798s) 169.187mph (40 laps)
31. #10 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 29.175s (-0.907s) 168.555mph (36 laps)
32. #34 David Ragan Ford 29.198s (-0.930s) 168.422mph (44 laps)
33. #83 David Reutimann Toyota 29.208s (-0.940s) 168.365mph (47 laps)
34. #87 Joe Nemechek Toyota 29.256s (-0.988s) 168.089mph (19 laps)
35. #33 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 29.356s (-1.088s) 167.516mph (13 laps)
36. #38 David Gilliland Ford 29.370s (-1.102s) 167.436mph (29 laps)
37. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 29.370s (-1.102s) 167.436mph (41 laps)
38. #36 JJ Yeley Chevrolet 29.392s (-1.124s) 167.311mph (34 laps)
39. #7 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 29.406s (-1.138s) 167.231mph (35 laps)
40. #32 Timmy Hill Ford 29.430s (-1.162s) 167.095mph (48 laps)
41. #19 Mike Bliss Toyota 29.439s (-1.171s) 167.044mph (7 laps)
42. #30 David Stremme Toyota 29.545s (-1.277s) 166.444mph (15 laps)
43. #35 Josh Wise Ford 29.564s (-1.296s) 166.337mph (17 laps)