NASCAR at Bristol 2015 Qualifying Results: Race Order, Final Times and Reaction – Bleacher Report

Matt Kenseth will have a clear view of the track ahead of him Sunday during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. 

Kenseth won the Coors Light Pole Award Friday with a best speed of 128.632 mph in the final round of group qualifying. It was his 14th pole of his career, although it was only the first of his 2015 season. It was also his second career pole victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Brad Keselowski finished in second place and will be alongside Kenseth on the front row Sunday.

NASCAR passed along scenes from the finish line:

.@mattkenseth has captured the #CoorsLight Pole Award! It is his first of the season. pic.twitter.com/marwMoPgkV

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 17, 2015

Toyota Racing offered its congratulations for the winner:

Congrats to @mattkenseth & @JoeGibbsRacing for winning the pole for Sunday’s #NASCAR race at @BMSupdates! pic.twitter.com/hAgalG3A5Y

— Toyota Racing (@ToyotaRacing) April 17, 2015

Here is a look at the top 12 finishers who reached the third and final round of qualifying Friday: 

XFINITY Racing noted that the top finishers have all won at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier in their careers and clearly understood what it took to turn in a solid time at the track:

The great @AllWaltrip is very excited for you to know the top 8 for #FoodCity500 are all former @BMSupdates winners! pic.twitter.com/DUjpFHHH61

— XFINITY Racing (@XFINITYRacing) April 17, 2015

The competition started with the first round, where the top 24 advanced to the second. Danica Patrick was among the notable drivers who did not finish in the top 24, although she wasn’t the only big name to struggle, as NASCAR Stats noted:

Last week’s race winner Jimmie Johnson is in danger of missing the round 2 cut. He currently ranks 28th with 6:30 left. He must be T24.

— NASCAR Stats (@NASCARStats) April 17, 2015

Failing to even reach the second round of qualifying wasn’t exactly how Johnson envisioned carrying over any momentum from his victory at the Duck Commander 500 in his last race.

Joey Logano turned in the best performance in the first round, and NASCAR shared a behind-the-scenes look at the early leader:

.@joeylogano, P1 after the 1st round of #CoorsLight Pole Qualifying, heads back for the 2nd! pic.twitter.com/2DEKLwWslo

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 17, 2015

The top 12 performers in the second round advanced to the third and final one with a shot at the pole. It was Logano once again who paced the field, but marquee names such as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Larson and Tony Stewart all failed to reach the finals. Lee Spencer of Motorsport.com passed along some quotes from a frustrated Earnhardt Jr.:

“As soon as I lift, it’s (freakin’) sideways,” says @DaleJr “This ain’t normal.” P13 #NASCAR “Just missed it. That (freakin’) sucks.”

— Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) April 17, 2015

“It’s just not good enough today,” says @DaleJr “That was a good result, considering how the car feels.” P13 #NASCAR

— Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) April 17, 2015

While Logano had the momentum from the first two rounds, Kenseth and Keselowski stepped up when it mattered most in the third round and seized the top two starting spots for Sunday’s race.

Kenseth has three career Sprint Cup victories at Bristol Motor Speedway in 30 starts to go along with his two pole wins there. He experienced success at this track before, and Friday’s performance will likely instill even more confidence moving forward.

If Kenseth races like he did Friday, he will take advantage of his pole position with a favorable finish. 

Kenseth is in 12th place in the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver standings and is looking up at some of the biggest names in the sport. A victory would go a long way toward boosting his position at this point of the season.

He got off to an ideal start Friday.