NASCAR at Dover 2017 Qualifying Results: Kyle Busch Wins, Takes Pole

NASCAR is making its first stop at Dover International Speedway in 2017 for the AAA 400 Drive for Autism on Sunday, with Kyle Busch starting from the pole position after coming out on top in qualifying. 

Busch came in just ahead of Martin Truex Jr. for the top spot, finishing .011 seconds ahead in the final round of qualifying. 

The win marks Busch's first pole of the season. The 32-year-old is in search of his first win this season after taking home the checkered flag four times in 2016. He's been flirting with success lately, finishing in the top five of each of the last three races, so this could be his breakthrough moment. 

NASCAR at Dover Qualifying Results

Front Row: Kyle Busch (Pole), Martin Truex Jr.

2nd Row: Daniel Suarez, Matt Kenseth

3rd Row: Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch

4h Row: Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski

5h Row: Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin

6th Row: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

7th Row: Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson

8th Row: Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott

9th Row: Trevor Bayne, Kevin Harvick

10th Row: Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne

11th Row: Ty Dillon, Clint Bowyer

12th Row: Paul Menard, A.J. Allmendinger

13th Row: Matt DiBenedetto, Joey Logano

14th Row: Landon Cassill, Michael McDowell

15th Row: Chris Buescher, Regan Smith

16th Row: Danica Patrick, Gray Gaulding

17th Row: David Ragan, Ryan Sieg

18th Row: Cole Whitt, Ross Chastain

19th Row: Timmy Hill, Cody Ware

Back Row: Jeffrey Earnhardt

In addition to Busch, Jeff Gluck noted Toyota had a very good qualifying day in Delaware:

Busch earned the top spot with a speed of 158.954 mph during the last of the three-lap final qualifying. The win marks his 20th career NASCAR pole and sets him up nicely to get that elusive 39th win on the top circuit. 

After the victory, Busch told FS1's Jamie Little about what he noticed from the entire Joe Gibbs team on the track:

Confidence is high for Busch right now, but there is a field of drivers angling to knock him off that perch on race day. Truex was right on his heels during qualifying, especially on that final lap with a speed of 158.877 mph. 

With Truex winning at Kansas three weeks ago and finishing third at the Coca-Cola 600 last week, he's firing on all cylinders with two days to make minor adjustments to push past Busch on the big stage. 

NASCAR noted on Thursday that Dover has been good to Truex in the past:

Truex also won the 2016 Citizen Soldier 400 on this track last October, so he's dangerous and has worked the momentum into his favor with this qualifying run.

Further down the qualifying list, Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a much-needed boost of confidence. The No. 88 car will start out of the 11th spot, a solid improvement after starting 19th at the Coca-Cola 600. He's been hit-and-miss at Dover with three finishes outside the top 10 in his last five runs on the track. 

Jimmie Johnson, who has owned this track throughout his career, will start 14th. The defending NASCAR Cup Series champion has won 10 times at Dover, though his last win was in May 2015, and he finished 25th in this event last year. 

The Lowe's team did note that Johnson's starting position shouldn't be a hindrance based on past results from the 14th spot:

Truex has been the most consistent driver on the circuit this season. He leads the point standings by five points over Kyle Larson and is tied with Brad Keselowski for the most wins in 2017 (two).

Having Truex starting on the front row only continues the momentum he has built through 12 races so far this season. 

Busch may be the one sitting on the pole, but all eyes will be focused on Truex looking to increase his lead atop the standings.