Ambrose Shatters Michigan Track Record

Marcos Ambrose won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole Saturday afternoon at Michigan Int'l Speedway. (HHP/Alan Marler Photo)

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Marcos Ambrose demolished the track qualifying record at Michigan Int’l Speedway Saturday, claiming the pole for Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at the two-mile oval.

His 35.43-second lap at 203.241 mph easily reset the former track record of 194.232 mph, set by Ryan Newman in 2005. Ambrose’s Ford will be joined on the front row by the No. 29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick, who timed in at 202.037 mph.

It was Ambrose’s first pole in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition and the second pole of the season for Richard Petty Motorsports.

“The Stanley Richard Petty Motorsports team is the fastest team in NASCAR,” said Ambrose, who notched the third fastest qualifying lap in NASCAR history. “Lightning fast out there. I didn’t know if the time was going to hold up, but I got everything I could out of that race car.

“To get a record speed at the track here in Michigan and to get a record speed for NASCAR in the current generation car, it’s just a great day,” Ambrose said.

Greg Biffle, who was able to surpass the 204 mph barrier in practice Friday, qualified third at 201.816 mph. Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman completed the top five in qualifying.

Of the 45 cars that took time, 38 of them broke the old qualifying record at Michigan and 19 of them qualified faster than 200 mph.

The drivers required to qualify on time that made the race were Trevor Bayne, Austin Dillon, Scott Riggs, Michael McDowell, Mike Bliss, Josh Wise, Joe Nemechek and J.J. Yeley.

David Stremme and Stacy Compton failed to qualify for Sunday’s race.

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Posted by NSSN Staff on Jun 16 2012 Filed under Latest Headlines, NASCAR, Sprint Cup, Top Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.