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Busch wins Michigan pole after qualifying rainout

Jun 13, 2008 - 10:40 PM BROOKLYN, Michigan (Ticker) -- Kyle Busch will start from the pole in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Friday afternoon's qualifying session was rained out, giving Busch the pole based on his lead in the Sprint Cup Series points standings.

After 11 drivers collected their times and speeds, showers moved into the area, sending all cars onto pit row before NASCAR officials decided to call it a day. It is the third time this season that qualifying has been canceled on the Sprint circuit.

Busch claimed the top spot with 2,084 points atop the series standings. It is the third pole this season for Busch, who will drive a Toyota aiming for his fifth victory this year.

"It's probably going to be like what we've seen the past couple of years, with starting up front paying dividends," Busch said. "I'm going to try to get the five bonus points for leading a lap once the race begins and then go on and try to have a solid day running up front."

Also on the front row is the Chevrolet Impala of Jeff Burton, who trails Busch by 21 points in the standings.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and defending race winner Carl Edwards comprise row 2 in a Chevy and a Ford Fusion, respectively, while Denny Hamlin (Toyota) and Jimmie Johnson (Chevy) make up the third row.

"Starting position is not as key here as at other speedways," Edwards said. "But you definitely always want to start up front."

Greg Biffle, the leader among the 11 drivers who gained track time Friday, will start seventh in a Ford, right next to the Chevy of four-time series champion Jeff Gordon.

"It was raining on the track when I was out there about like it is here in pit row," Biffle said. "But, when you're going 200 miles an hour watching the drops go off the windshield, it looks a little different than before I rolled off the end of pit road.

"It was just drizzling out there, but after a period of time, that's going to saturate the track and get it wet."

Kasey Kahne, who won last week's Pocono 500 in a Dodge Charger and has been victorious in two of the last three Sprint races, will start alongside the Chevy of Kevin Harvick in row 5.

"We've had a good last month and we're going to try and keep the momentum going this weekend," Kahne said. "We would have liked to get a qualifying lap in, but the weather didn't cooperate."