Blaney recovers from spin to win pole

AUSTIN, Texas – Ryan Blaney recovered from a spin in practice to win the pole for Sunday's race at Circuit of the Americas.

Blaney spun in Saturday morning practice and contact with the wall left a scratch on the back of the No. 12 Ford. Team Penske had him ready to go when qualifying began and Blaney advanced into the final round, where his lap of 92.759 mph earned him the eighth pole of his career.

“I wouldn't have thought we'd sit on the pole after I hit the fence,” Blaney said while praising NASCAR'S new Next Gen racecar for its durability. “I appreciate the soft wall that was over there and the resilient race car.”

Daniel Suarez qualified second alongside Blaney in a Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing.

Cole Custer qualified third in a Ford for Stewart-haas Racing and will start next to Tyler Reddick in a Chevrolet from Richard Childress Racing.

Keselowski confident he can recover

Brad Keselowski was optimistic he can overcome a knee-buckling penalty that potentially ended any championship chances a mere five races into his first season as a Cup team owner.

NASCAR this week said an inspection at its North Carolina facility uncovered an illegal modification to the No. 6 Ford – a major infraction under tightened rules for the new Next Gen racecar.

Keselowski, now a co-owner of RFK Racing, was docked 100 points and plummeted from 16th in the current standings to 35th. He goes into Sunday's race at Circuit of the Americas as the lowest ranked full-time Cup Series driver.

“No, it's not crippling. It's not what we want. Nobody wants to be in this position,” Keselowski said after qualifying 26th on Saturday.

“We're going to get out of this what we make of it. And we can use this as a moment to drown in our own tears, or get stronger and be better. I'm committed to the latter of the two.”

RFK was also docked 100 owner points on the No. 6 Ford, while crew chief Matt Mccall was fined $100,000 and suspended for four Cup races. Should Keselowski recover to make the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season, the 2012 Cup champion will be docked 10 points at the reset.

Keselowski would not reveal what NASCAR has accused RFK Racing of doing to its car ahead of last Sunday's race at Atlanta, citing the appeal process.

MIKE DINOVO/USA TODAY SPORTS Ryan Blaney took the pole for the Echopark Automotive Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas.