HOMESTEAD, Fla. — If qualifying is any indication of how the championship race might shape up in Sunday’s NASCAR season finale, Jimmie Johnson appears to have an edge over Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.
Kasey Kahne turned in a lap of 176.904 mph to win the pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, but the focus was on the Sprint Cup series’ three title contenders.
Johnson qualified sixth, while Harvick was 28th and Hamlin was 38th on the speed chart — although he’ll actually line up in the 37th spot Sunday because of NASCAR’s qualifying rules for teams that aren’t in the top 35 in points. Hamlin, who has a 15-point lead over Johnson and a 46-point lead over Harvick going into the Ford 400, wasn’t panicking.
“This is a track where you can pass,” Hamlin said. “We’re looking forward to that part of it.”
A poor qualifying effort certainly didn’t matter at Homestead last year, when Hamlin won the race after qualifying 38th. And Hamlin has put himself in position to win the championship this year despite not qualifying particularly well all season.
“Fridays have just never been our strong suit,” Hamlin said. “So we’ve got to battle back again.”
Harvick isn’t typically a strong qualifier either.
“I thought we would actually be a touch better — but not much,” Harvick said.
Earlier Friday, Johnson joked that he, Hamlin and Harvick have been having a “a world- class pillow fight” in qualifying of late. All three drivers have qualified 17th or worse for each of the last two races. And Johnson was well aware Hamlin won from deep in the field last year.
“If I was in their shoes, I’d say, ‘Heck, we qualified 38th last year,’ ” Johnson said.
Meanwhile, it was the fourth pole of the season for Kahne, who announced he is scheduled to undergo surgery on both knees Tuesday.
Kahne said he was born with a condition called plica syndrome that causes irritation of tissue in his knee, and he gradually has been experiencing more discomfort after driving his race car or exercising. He said the condition isn’t serious but the pain is “no fun.”
Annett gets full-time ride.
Rusty Wallace Racing said Michael Annett will drive a full Nationwide Series schedule next season. Annett will replace Brendan Gaughan in the No. 62 Toyota. Gaughan is returning to the Trucks Series.
