Kyle Busch edged out AJ Allmendinger to take pole position for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen.
Hamlin to start from last place after crashing during qualifying run
Kyle Busch edged out AJ Allmendinger to take pole position for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen.
The last driver to make a qualifying attempt, Busch managed to post a lap of 126.421mph around the 11-turn circuit at Watkins Glen.
His effort knocked Allmendinger off top spot during a session that saw 15 drivers beat Jeff Gordon's 2003 track record of 124.580 mph.
"This feels very good," Busch said after clinching his first pole on a road course, though it is his eighth overall.
"I've won races at road courses, but never been the fastest guy for one lap. Joey Logano did it (at the road course) at Sonoma (in June). Hopefully, we can get a win."
Allmedinger's Richard Petty Motorsports team-mate Marcos Ambrose was third fastest with Jimmie Johnson in fourth, ahead of defending champion Juan Pablo Montoya.
Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart are sixth and seventh respectively with points leader Carl Edwards eighth. Martin Truex Jnr and Regan Smith round out the top 10 for Sunday's race.
Denny Hamlin will have to start from last place, however, after crashing during his qualifying run.
