NASCAR at Kentucky 2017 Qualifying Results: Kyle Busch Earns Pole on Friday

Qualifying was cut short at the Kentucky Speedway on Friday night, leaving Kyle Busch as the pole-sitter for Saturday's Quaker State 400. 

NASCAR shared the news on Twitter:

The drivers managed to get through two rounds of qualifying before the threat of rain and lightning halted the proceedings.

Martin Truex Jr. finished second in qualifying, with Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray and Denny Hamlin rounding out the top five. Here's the full race order, per NASCAR.com:

• 1. Kyle Busch
• 2. Martin Truex Jr.
• 3. Matt Kenseth
• 4. Jamie McMurray
• 5. Denny Hamlin
• 6. Ryan Blaney
• 7. Kevin Harvick
• 8. Jimmie Johnson
• 9. Daniel Suarez
• 10. Brad Keselowski
• 11. Joey Logano
• 12. Chase Elliott
• 13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 
• 14. Erik Jones
• 15. Kurt Busch
• 16. Clint Bowyer
• 17. Darrell Wallace Jr. 
• 18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
• 19. Trevor Bayne
• 20. Danica Patrick
• 21. Michael McDowell
• 22. Chris Buescher
• 23. Kasey Kahne
• 24. Paul Menard
• 25. Austin Dillon 
• 26. David Ragan
• 27. Ty Dillon
• 28. AJ Allmendinger
• 29. Ryan Newman
• 30. Matt DiBenedetto
• 31. Ryan Sieg
• 32. Cole Whitt
• 33. Reed Sorenson
• 34. Joey Gase
• 35. Landon Cassill
• 36. Jeffrey Earnhardt
• 37. B.J. McCleod
• 38. Timmy Hill
• 39. Gray Gaulding
• 40. Kyle Larson

For Busch, his top qualifying time marked his third won pole of the season. But Friday was perhaps more impressive than the other two as the driver set a new track record by finishing a lap in in 28.379 seconds, posting a top speed of 190.282 mph, per Ron Clements of Omnisport (via Sporting News).

NASCAR showed Busch zipping around the track: 

Truex nearly outperformed Busch, however: 

Busch also has had plenty of success at the Kentucky Speedway along with his rival, Brad Keselowski, who finished 10th in qualifying.

As Claude Thompson of USA Today wrote, "Out of over 1,600 total Cup Series laps ran at the track, Keselowski and Busch have led almost 60 percent of them." 

Busch has seven wins at the track, while Keselowski has posted three triumphs.

"Yeah it’s just a thing that we have going here at Kentucky Speedway that we’re two of the best guys, and two of the most winningest drivers at the Cup Series here at Kentucky Speedway," Busch said earlier in the week, per Thompson. "I’d certainly love to add to my list of being on top, but it’s been fun over the course of the years."

He'd also likely enjoy breaking his winless streak in the Cup Series, which now dates back to July 2016. Winning the pole was certainly a strong start in that effort.

On the other end of the spectrum, points leader Kyle Larson didn't attempt a qualifying lap after being held up in pre-qualifying inspection.

He'lly certainly have his work cut out for him Saturday as he starts from the back of the pack.