(Photo: The Associated Press)
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Kevin Harvick took yet addition pole, this time with a big abetment from Tony Stewart in the aggregation owner's acknowledgment to the track.
Harvick, in his aboriginal division with Stewart-Haas Racing, angry a fast lap of 190.398 mph Friday night to win the pole for the NASCAR Dart Cup Series chase Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
It was Harvick's series-leading sixth pole of the season. He was the top qualifier for the additional beeline anniversary afterwards additionally topping condoning at Bristol.
Despite his success in condoning this season, Harvick said a poor aboriginal annular of condoning larboard him in charge of advice from Stewart, the co-owner of the team.
"The aboriginal run wasn't actual acceptable due to the disciplinarian not accomplishing a acceptable job," Harvick said.
Stewart, who able 12th in his acknowledgment to racing, gave some pointers on area to chase on the track. Stewart sat out three contest afterwards the dart car he was active addled and dead 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. Ward had stepped on the upstate New York clay clue to accost Stewart during the Aug. 9 race.
"I acquainted like I had fabricated a aberration the aboriginal run and never absolutely got in the accent of accomplishing absolutely what he was doing," Harvick said. "He told me to go aback to the way I was practicing and acclimated to activity about racetracks.
"It was absolutely the appropriate decision. He was absolutely a big advice in authoritative sure. He had already run, alive that it was activity to be bigger lower."
Brad Keselowski will accompany Harvick on the advanced row afterwards condoning additional at 190.058. Rounding out the top bristles were Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth.
Stewart apprehend a able account in a account appointment afore the qualifying.
"It is acceptable to accept Tony back, acutely to be able to acquaint with him and allocution about antagonism and booty that aboriginal footfall back," Harvick said.
After Harvick won the pole, he was approached by Stewart.
"It was aloof congratulations, acceptable job and talking about what anniversary added did with our cars," Harvick said. "It was all racing."
Keselowski said he was "very pumped" to authorize second.
"I aloof ambition it would accept been one added spot, and that's aboriginal abode instead of second," Keselowski said. "That's the way it goes. Maybe we can acquisition that one added atom actuality Sunday night. The car has been absolutely fast so far."
The Atlanta chase is the next-to-last befalling for drivers to acreage one of 16 spots in the Chase for the Dart Cup. Twelve racers, including Harvick and Keselowski, already accept anchored their spots. Kenseth and Newman are in acceptable position to assure spots Sunday night.
Points baton Jeff Gordon able ninth. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is block Gordon, was 20th. Joey Logano was 14th.
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