Ford’s start to the 2013 Sprint Cup season hasn’t been what they expected.
With NASCAR’s new “Generation-Six” racecar – designed to put the manufactures’ identity back at the forefront of the sport – making it’s debut, it was a chance for all three manufactures to make a splash.
Ford opted to make a change to the appearance of their car, aiming for that sought after manufacture identity.
Thus far, with only two wins in the first 14 races, things haven’t gone to plan.
But, with this weekend’s race being in Ford’s “backyard” at Michigan International Speedway, now would be as good of time as ever for the Fords to make a splash.
That certainly happened Friday as Carl Edwards won the pole for Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400.
“This pole for us is huge,” Edwards said. “We’ve been very close all year, the guys have been working really hard.”
Last season, Marcos Ambrose (Ford powered), recorded the fastest qualifying lap in NASCAR since 1987 with a lap averaging over 203 mph around the two-mile track.
While Edwards’ lap at 202.452 mph wasn’t enough to brake the track record, it was enough to give Ford their first pole of the 2013 season.
“We’ve got a lot of steam this weekend. All of us have been pulling the same direction,” said Edwards. “We talked a lot last week about Roush Fenway needing to turn the corner.”
By winning the pole, it marks the first time in his career that Edwards has won a pole at Michigan International Speedway; a track he has two wins at.
“Kurt [Busch] had me really nervous,” Edwards said. “The clouds were coming and we knew he was going to be stout.”
Busch will flank Edwards on the outside of the front row for Sunday’s race, the fourth time in 2013 the 2004 Cup champion has started on the front row.
Kasey Kahne, Paul Menard, Aric Almirola, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, and Juan Pablo Montoya round out the top-10 starters.
Scott Riggs was the only driver that failed to qualify for the 43-car field.
Quicken Loans 400 Starting LineupÂ
- Carl Edwards
- Kurt Busch
- Kasey Kahne
- Paul Menard
- Aric Almirola
- Joey Logano
- Austin Dillon
- Matt Kenseth
- Kyle Busch
- Juan Pablo Montoya
- Denny Hamlin
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Tony Stewart
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Brad Keselowski
- Jimmie Johnson
- Jeff Burton
- Greg Biffle
- Bobby Labonte
- Kevin Harvick
- Mark Martin
- Marcos Ambrose
- Casey Mears
- Trevor Bayne
- David Gilliland
- Clint Bowyer
- Jamie McMurray
- Jeff Gordon
- Michael McDowell
- David Ragan
- AJ Allmendinger
- David Reutimann
- David Stremme
- Ryan Newman
- Dave Blaney
- Danica Patrick
- Josh Wise
- Ken Schrader
- JJ Yeley
- Travis Kvapil
- Joe Nemechek
- Mike Bliss
RT @OnPitRoad_: NEW: Edwards wins Michigan pole #NASCAR http://t.co/AcSNRfLylu