Larson wins Monster Energy All-Star Race pole

By Kelly Crandall | May 19, 2017 11:23 PM ET

The most exciting qualifying session of the NASCAR season was once again worth the price of admission.

The format for the Monster Energy All-Star Race requires drivers to make three timed laps around Charlotte Motor Speedway in addition to a mandatory four-tire pit stop – with no pit road speed limit. It results in drivers flying down pit road and attempting to stop on a dime in his or her pit box.

High speed. High pressure. #AllStarRace pic.twitter.com/aZazQSiYN6

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 19, 2017

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Friday night saw a little bit of everything. Of the 16 drivers who took time, only five advanced to the final round for a shot at the pole.

Kyle Larson was mistake-free in both rounds of qualifying to win the pole with a lap of 143.839mph. A year ago, Larson nearly won the All-Star Race but came up short in a late duel with Joey Logano. Saturday will be Larson’s second attempt at the $1 million prize.

“I was getting ready to change after Kurt [Busch] beat me there and then decided I might not change because if I end up second you’d probably want an interview, so stayed in the suit, and yeah, that’s pretty cool,” Larson said. “It’s my first time doing this [kind of qualifying]. It’s nice that we had a second round there to get a second attempt to pick up some time there.

“This deal’s kind of all about not making mistakes and everybody but us made mistakes that last round. Proud of everybody on this Target team, especially our pit crew. Our pit crew saved me the first round to get us into this round, so getting the pole is pretty sweet.”

Of the top five drivers, Johnson and Kurt Busch were both issued penalties.

Johnson first overshot his pit stall and then his No. 48 crew was penalized for going over the wall too soon. Busch laid down the fastest lap but was issued a 10-second penalty for having two loose lug nuts.

Those who failed to advance out of the first round included Ryan Newman (as seen in the video below, he spun in Turns 3 and 4 coming to pit road); Martin Truex Jr. and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (both of whom were issued a five-second penalty for a loose lug nut); as well as Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth and Joey Logano (all overshot their pit stalls).

That’s one way to get on to pit road. pic.twitter.com/cfpqN6bESL

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 19, 2017

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As part of this year’s All-Star Race qualifying format, Harvick’s team was awarded the “Pit Crew Competition Award” for having the fastest pit stop, which came during the first round.

Four drivers will advance into the All-Star Race (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1) following the Monster Energy Open. Three drivers will advance through winning one of the stages in the Open and one driver will receive the fan vote.

Cup Series, NASCAR