Harvick on pole at Atlanta

HAMPTON, Ga. — Kevin Harvick knows he can go fast at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Now he wants to win there.

Harvick earned the pole position for the second race of the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series season, turning a lap of 190.398 mph in the third round of qualifying Friday.

Harvick has led more laps (442) than anyone at each of the past three races at the track, but he failed to win any of them.

“It’s frustrating,” Harvick said. “Hopefully this year we can close it out.”

Ryan Newman will start on the outside of the front row Sunday after posting a speed of 189.870 mph. They were followed by Kyle Busch (189.850), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ( 188.854) and Brad Keselowski (188.783).

“That was good,” said Newman, who is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2016 season. “Harvick just slipped in there and beat us.”

Kurt Busch, who won the season- opening Daytona 500 last weekend, was 13th. Jimmie Johnson, winner of the past two races at AMS, was 18th.

Five cars did not pass inspection in time to get on the track. Derrike Cope, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Michael McDowell, Cody Ware and Cole Whitt were not able to attempt a lap in the first round of qualifying, but no one was sent home with only 39 entries for a field that allows 40 cars.

Unlike last year, when the inspection line was plagued by delays, NASCAR officials said every car was able to get through at least 45 minutes before the start of qualifying. However, under new rules for this season, any car that fails any part of the inspection protocol has to go through the entire process again.

“The garage has asked us to stay consistent, stay the course and they’ll get it fixed. That’s what we’re going to do,” said Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s vice president of officiating and technical inspection. “It’s going to be a little painful, but we’ll get there.”