Blaney takes Texas pole

FORT WORTH, Texas – Clint Bowyer went more than 200 mph like polesitter Ryan Blaney during NASCAR Cup qualifying at Texas.

“It’s so hard to sit here and explain to somebody what that lap feels like, and the adjustments you have to make,” Bowyer said. “You have to be committed. You can’t just feel it out at that point.”

Blaney earned the pole Friday at 200.505 mph at the 11⁄2-mile track, just ahead of Bowyer’s 200.230 mph lap that was the fastest of the eight contenders still alive in the playoff.

“Really fast lap after leaving Martinsville, of all places,” Bowyer said, referring to last week’s race at the halfmile paperclip-shaped track.

Blaney described the fast lap of just under 27 seconds as like almost holding his breath.

All four Stewart-Haas drivers were the top qualifiers among the championship contenders.

Bowyer led the way, with teammates Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola in the second row.

Kurt Busch, who was going for his third consecutive poll at Texas, qualified seventh.

The only non-Ford in the top seven was the No. 11 Toyota of non-playoff driver Denny Hamlin in the sixth spot.

Joey Logano, who is already locked into the season finale at Homestead after his win at Martinsville last week, qualified eighth, with Kyle Busch 10th.

Two playoff contenders didn’t make it into the final round of qualifying.

Martin Truex Jr, the defending Cup champion, qualified 13th and three spots ahead of Chase Elliott.

SHORT OF A RECORD

In qualifying at Texas last November, Busch ran 200.915 mph on his only lap in the final round of qualifying to set the track record. Five drivers qualified at more than 200 mph for that race.