Mid pack start for Ambrose in 600

Australia’s Marcos Ambrose will start the longest race in NASCAR, the Coca-Cola 500 in Charlotte, from 24th position following qualifying at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Pole position went to Brad Keselowski, with Ambrose’s Richard Petty Motorsports team-mate AJ Allmendinger to share the front row for the 600 mile race that will run Monday morning Australian time.

After practice in warm conditions during the day, the #9 Ford team did not have the best set-up for the evening qualifying session. 

“We just didn’t get it right this afternoon when the track was hot and it is what it is,” said Ambrose.

“It’s a long race, but every spot counts.”

Five cars failed to make the 43-car grid with Andy Lally, TJ Bell, Scott Wimmer, Tony Raines and Scott Riggs all set to watch the race from the grandstands.

A car that did make the field was the Wood Brothers #21 of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who is substituting for Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne. Bayne has been unable to race since 23 April due to a mystery illness. However, Stenhouse Jr. was fighting fit as he set the ninth fastest time in qualifying.

The Wood Brothers are not running the full NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule, so had to qualify on time and not rely on a provisional starting position reserved for the top 36 in owners’ points or a past champions guaranteed starting spot.

Bayne is due to race in the Nationwide Series next weekend in Chicago.

Qualifying Results: Coca-Cola 600 Lowe’s Motorspeedway – Charlotte

Pos	Driver	Speed	Time
1	Brad Keselowski	192.089	28.11
2	A.J. Allmendinger	191.693	28.17
3	Carl Edwards	191.686	28.17
4	Denny Hamlin	191.367	28.22
5	Jeff Burton	191.245	28.24
6	Jimmie Johnson	191.069	28.26
7	David Reutimann	190.921	28.28
8	David Ragan	190.799	28.30
9	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	190.752	28.31
10	Clint Bowyer	190.705	28.32
11	Jeff Gordon	190.604	28.33
12	Ryan Newman	190.564	28.34
13	Mark Martin	190.409	28.36
14	Martin Truex Jr.	190.201	28.39
15	Greg Biffle	190.161	28.40
16	Paul Menard	190.067	28.41
17	Kasey Kahne	189.893	28.44
18	Brian Vickers	189.867	28.44
19	Matt Kenseth	189.860	28.44
20	Regan Smith	189.767	28.46
21	Kyle Busch	189.440	28.50
22	Tony Stewart	189.414	28.51
23	Joey Logano	189.321	28.52
24	Marcos Ambrose	189.288	28.53
25	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	188.937	28.58
26	Kurt Busch	188.844	28.60
27	Bobby Labonte	188.653	28.62
28	Kevin Harvick	188.416	28.66
29	Juan Pablo Montoya	188.160	28.70
30	David Gilliland	188.048	28.72
31	Travis Kvapil	187.990	28.72
32	David Starr	187.944	28.73
33	Michael McDowell	187.682	28.77
34	J.J. Yeley	187.513	28.80
35	Jamie McMurray	187.201	28.85
36	Joe Nemechek	187.169	28.85
37	Casey Mears	186.994	28.88
38	David Stremme	186.916	28.89
39	Mike Bliss	186.413	28.97
40	Landon Cassill	185.567	29.10
41	Robby Gordon	184.780	29.22
42	Dave Blaney	184.527	29.26
43	Mike Skinner	186.774	28.91
44	Andy Lally	186.651	28.93
45	TJ Bell	186.567	28.94
46	Scott Wimmer	186.213	29.00
47	Tony Raines	184.483	29.27
48	Scott Riggs	183.730	29.39