Quaker State 400 Countdown: Logano ‘surprised’ with pole run at Infineon

 “This is the last place I expected to get a pole,” Joey Logano said on Friday. “I never considered myself a road course racer.”

With a lap of 93.256 mph (76.821 seconds) the 21-year-old, Middletown, Conn., native bested Jamie McMurray for his first pole of the 2011 campaign. The pole is Logano’s second career pole.

This is Logano's second career pole in the Cup Series (Getty Images for NASCAR)

However it would surprise no one that closely follows the youngster if he pulled into Victory Lane on Saturday July 9th after winning the inaugural Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. Logano noted that he’s “batting 1000,” at Kentucky and, “wants to keep that going.”

“I’m undefeated here,” Logano said. “I actually won a legends race here when I was 12. I think I was 12 years old and I won that too.”

Logano is a perfect three-for-three in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide (nee Busch) Series in the past three races at the 1.5-mile oval in Sparta, Kentucky. He’s been able to master the track’s bumpiness, especially over in turns one and two.

Logano speaks to gathered media at the June 1st Goodyear tire test at Kentucky

“There are so many bumps around this place,” he said. “Turns one and two, mainly on the bottom, there’s a good one into three and the front straightaway is pretty bumpy, but I like it. I think it gives [the track] good character.

“You’ve got to be able to get your car over them pretty good.”

And no one has gotten over them better in the biggest races at Kentucky.

“It’s one of those things that if you like the racetrack and it suits your driving style—and let’s face it, those Gibbs Nationwide cars won everything in sight, so that doesn’t hurt you on your chances—but it just suits his driving style,” Greg Biffle said during the Goodyear tire test at Kentucky.

The pole at Infineon marks the first time Logano could actually pose for photos as the “Coors Light Pole Award Winner.” Since Logano is now 21, he can advertise the official beer of NASCAR, whereas before, he had to wear hats that stated, “Must be 21 to Drink.”

It would truly surprise no one, myself included, if Logano won a pole or two during the inaugural Quaker State 400 race weekend at Kentucky.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, Joey Logano is my pick to win the Quaker State 400. Although everyone who reads this knows I’d love to see Mark Martin win even more than Logano.

And if he doesn’t, chances are he’ll win his fourth straight Nationwide race in the “Feed The Children 300.” At least everyone won’t be taken by surprise if that happens.