Stewart-Haas Racing Irwin Tools Night Race Qualifying Results

Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala, led the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent in time trials at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway by qualifying fourth for Saturday’s Irwin Tools Night Race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. Stewart turned a lap of 15.653 seconds at 122.584 mph on the .533-mile oval.

“I’m happy with that lap,” said Stewart, who won at Bristol in August 2001. “The car felt good. I’m really happy with the way that it ran. Proud of Darian (Grubb, crew chief) and all the guys on this Office Depot/Old Spice team.”

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 WIX Filters Chevrolet Impala for SHR, qualified sixth with a time of 15.680 seconds at 122.372 mph.

“We have a great WIX Filters Chevrolet,” said Newman, who has nine top-10 finishes in 17 career Sprint Cup starts at Bristol. “The car feels pretty good in race trim. We have a good package. We picked up right at two tenths from what we practiced – maybe a tenth-and-a-half. Tony Gibson (crew chief) and the guys did a great job. It’s been a lot of fun today.”

The last time both SHR cars qualified in the top-10 came three races ago at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway where Stewart qualified second and Newman qualified fifth.

Four-time and reigning Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson captured his 24th career pole, his first of the season and his first in 18 career Sprint Cup races at Bristol by posting a lap of 15.540 seconds at 123.475 mph. Carl Edwards will start alongside Johnson on the outside of row one as he timed in at 15.608 seconds and 122.937 mph. Joey Logano was third (15.630 seconds at 122.764 mph), while Stewart and David Reutimann (15.664 seconds at 122.497 mph) rounded out the top-five.

Forty-nine drivers attempted to qualify for the Irwin Tools Night Race. Those not making the cut in the 43-car field were Dave Blaney, Joe Nemechek, Kevin Lepage, J.J. Yeley, Brian Keselowski and Mike Bliss.

As far as manufacturers went, Chevrolet took the top spot thanks to Johnson’s pole-winning mark. Ford was next best at the hands of Edwards, while Toyota was the third-fastest make via Logano. Brad Keselowski carried the flag for Dodge by qualifying 15th (15.728 seconds at 121.999 mph).

The Irwin Tools Night Race gets underway at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with its pre-race show at 7 p.m.