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    NASCAR at Michigan 2019 Qualifying Results: Joey Logano Wins Pole Position

    Mike Chiari@mikechiariFeatured ColumnistJune 8, 2019

    Joey Logano goes live on his cellphone after the pole presentation for the NASCAR cup series race at Michigan International Speedway, Saturday, June 8, 2019, in Brooklyn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
    Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

    Joey Logano captured his second pole of the season during NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Saturday.

    Logano held off Aric Almirola, who finished just 0.019 seconds behind and will start on the outside of Row 1 in the FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday:

    FOX: NASCAR @NASCARONFOX

    Joey Logano makes his Ford friends very happy in Michigan! Retweet to congratulate the No. 22 team on their POLE. https://t.co/2Isb2grl3d

    Here is a rundown of the full qualifying order, courtesy of NASCAR.com (times in seconds):

    1. Joey Logano: 38.474

    2. Aric Almirola: 38.493

    3. Kevin Harvick: 38.522

    4. Denny Hamlin: 38.526

    5. Clint Bowyer: 38.549

    6. Paul Menard: 38.573

    7. Kurt Busch: 38.590

    8. Brad Keselowski: 38.605

    9. Daniel Suarez: 38.612

    10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 38.620

    11. Daniel Hemric: 38.632

    12. Austin Dillon: 38.639

    NASCAR at Michigan 2019 Qualifying Results: Joey Logano Wins Pole Position
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    13. Ryan Blaney: 38.661

    14. Erik Jones: 38.705

    15. Kyle Busch: 38.714

    16. Martin Truex Jr.: 38.714

    17. Chase Elliott: 38.732

    18. Ryan Newman: 38.792

    19. Jimmie Johnson: 38.793

    20. Alex Bowman: 38.878

    21. William Byron: 38.925

    22. Kyle Larson: 38.927

    23. Michael McDowell: 38.927

    24. David Ragan: 38.963

    25. Ty Dillon: 39.030

    26. Matt Tifft: 39.040

    27. Bubba Wallace: 39.122

    28. Ryan Preece: 39.191

    29. Matt DiBenedetto: 39.271

    30. Landon Cassill: 39.274

    31. Chris Buescher: 39.296

    32. Corey Lajoie: 39.401

    33. Kyle Weatherman: 39.801

    34. Josh Bilicki: 40.177

    35. Quin Houff: 40.271

    36. Garrett Smithley: 40.435

                           

    Logano is a two-time winner at Michigan, and both wins came from the pole. Knowing that, Logano discussed the importance of starting on the inside of Row 1:

    #NASCARSalutes @NASCAR

    Whatever he did on his lap, it worked! 😂 @joeylogano's only two wins at @MISpeedway came from the #BuschPole — will history repeat itself tomorrow? https://t.co/CtIwaf0ECM

    Meanwhile, Almirola expressed confidence about his car entering Sunday's race:

    #NASCARSalutes @NASCAR

    Another run at the #BuschPole comes up just short for @Aric_Almirola. He'll look to give @StewartHaasRcng their first win of the season tomorrow at @MISpeedway! https://t.co/eP0CCooqgF

    Kyle Busch, who leads the NASCAR Cup Series in points and in wins with four, only managed to qualify in 15th. Because of that, Logano has a legitimate chance to pass him in the points standings Sunday.

    Logano is second in the standings and trails Busch by just four points. Busch also has just one win in 28 career starts at Michigan, making it one of the few tracks he hasn't dominated over the years.

    Among drivers with at least seven career starts at Michigan, Logano has the best average finish at 12.5 behind only Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick.

    Harvick is still in search of his first win of 2019, but he has a good chance to get it Sunday since he is starting third. Keselowski could tie Busch with his fourth win of the season if he is able to pick up the victory from the eighth starting spot.

    Saturday was a big day for Stewart-Haas Racing, as all four of its drivers qualified ninth or better. Almirola (second), Harvick (third), Clint Bowyer (fifth) and Daniel Suarez (ninth) are all strong candidates to take the checkered flag Sunday.