LOUDON, N.H. — Joey Logano led a top-three sweep for Ford in qualifying at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Sunday\u2019s second-round opener in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.<\/p>\n
The three-time Cup Series champion enthusiastically celebrated his 33rd career pole position and second this season after turning a 29.159-second lap (130.622 mph) in the No. 22 Ford on the 1.058-mile oval.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first pole for the Middletown, Connecticut, native at New Hampshire, which was the site of his first career Cup win in June 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cMan, it\u2019s my home track,\u201d said Logano, who also won at New Hampshire in 2014. \u201cIt feels so good to run well here. Hopefully we\u2019re able to capitalize.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teammate Ryan Blaney will start second in the No. 12 Ford as Team Penske captured the front row in qualifying for the second time this season. It\u2019s the 11th pole at New Hampshire for Penske.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel good for (Sunday),\u201d said Blaney, who tied his best starting spot at New Hampshire<\/a> with a lap that was 0.170 seconds behind Logano. \u201cI thought I was close to getting the pole until I looked at the time. What a heck of a lap by Joey and that group. Really cool to have a Penske front row.\u201d<\/p>\n Josh Berry, whose No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford has a competitive alliance with Penske, qualified third in a rebound from being eliminated with three consecutive last-place finishes in the first round of the playoffs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tyler Reddick qualified fourth, and William Byron was fifth as playoff drivers took four of the top five starting spots.<\/p>\n