SPARTA, Ky. (AP) - Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson overcame blustery wind to capture his first pole in more than a year when he edged Kyle Busch for the top spot Saturday at Kentucky Speedway.
A freakish storm with high wind that lifted tents and littered the area with debris caused qualifying to be suspended. The cars returned to the track shortly - after the temperature dropped 20 degrees.
Johnson, who had not won a pole since September 2010 at Dover, had a top speed of 181.818 mph and a lap time of 29.700. He edged defending champion Busch, who went 181.421 and was just 0.065 seconds slower.
Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick made up the second row.
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