LONG POND, Pa. – Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick shared laughs side by side on a podium only days after they were tangled up in bump-and-run racing on a NASCAR track.
The would-be front-row starters were connected again Saturday at Pocono Raceway when their cars failed post-qualifying inspection and their times were disallowed.
Harvick had turned a lap of 177.750 mph to briefly win the pole position for Sunday’s Cup Series race, and Busch was a few ticks behind him, but now they’ll start at the rear of the field. Seven-time season champion Jimmie Johnson joined Busch and Harvick among the whopping 13 drivers whose cars failed inspection and will start at the bottom of the lineup in order of team owner’s points.
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Daniel Suarez will start first, making him the first Mexican driver to win a pole in the Cup Series. With 400 miles of racing on a 2 1/2-mile tri-oval ahead, though, there’s ample time for Busch and Harvick to find their way to the front.
“I’ve screwed it up here a lot,” Harvick said.