SPARTA, Ky. – Kentucky Speedway’s NASCAR Cup Series winners club is seeking new members.
The biggest challenge is a demanding screening process.
Just four drivers have won the seven 400-mile Cup Series races held so far at the 1.5-mile tri-oval. Brad Keselowski (three wins) and Kyle Busch (two) were favored last July at the track, but Martin Truex Jr. got the victory on the way to winning the series championship. Matt Kenseth, the 2003 season champion, won here in 2013.
Considering points leader Busch, second-place Kevin Harvick – who has five consecutive top-10 finishes at Kentucky – and Truex have combined for 13 wins this season, the Kentucky Speedway club might stay the same Saturday night. That theory took on added weight Friday evening, when Truex earned the pole position at the track for the first time.
Truex turned a lap at 188.890 mph to earn the 19th pole of his Cup Series career. He led 152 of 274 laps and took the checkered flag under caution last year for his first Kentucky victory.