Autos: Kevin Harvick earns pole spot based on practice time

JOLIET, Ill. – Kevin Harvick will begin defense of his Sprint Cup championship from the pole in the opening round of NASCAR’s playoffs.

Heavy rain washed out qualifying Friday at Chicagoland Speedway, and NASCAR set the field based on speeds from the only practice session of the day. Knowing that weather was likely going to be an issue, Harvick and his Stewart-Haas Racing team focused on laying down a fast lap that they could fall back on should qualifying indeed be scratched.

It was the right play, and Harvick will lead the field to green Sunday in the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

“I’m just most proud of my team for having the fast race car and coming to the track and having a plan, and doing all the things they did to (anticipate) the weather,” Harvick said. “They put a lot of emphasis on laying a fast lap down, just like everybody else, to get a good starting position.”

It seemed like everyone had that same plan as the top four starting spots went to Chase drivers, and 12 of the fastest 15 were title contenders.

Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski will start second and third, respectively, followed by Martin Truex Jr.

Ryan Newman will start sixth, Kyle Busch seventh and Kurt Busch will go off in ninth.

Kurt Busch moved up one spot on the starting grid because Ryan Blaney, who was ninth fastest in practice, did not make the race when the rain washed out qualifying. It’s the third time this season Blaney has been sent home because qualifying was canceled.

“What the real bummer is, is for Ryan Blaney,” Logano said. “That is a big heartbreaker for him.”