BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Kurt Busch won his third consecutive pole in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, finishing first in qualifying Saturday at Michigan International Speedway with a lap of 188.699 miles per hour.
Busch is sixth in the points standings and has finished in the top 10 three straight races, including a second-place showing last weekend at Pocono Raceway. He has not won in 2011.
David Reutimann (188.684 mph) was second in qualifying, and Matt Kenseth (188.620) was third.
Points leader Carl Edwards was 23rd. Jeff Gordon, coming off a win at Pocono, was 31st.
Ryan Newman, who set the track’s qualifying record in 2005 at 194.232 mph, was 13th this time around.
