Looking back at NASCAR Cup Series history at Dover Motor Speedway, the most recent pole winner to win the race was Jimmie Johnson in 2010.
Fourteen years is a hell of a long time, especially in the world of NASCAR.
So that’s a bad sign for Kyle Busch, who posted the fastest qualifying time for Sunday’s Würth 400, right?
Not exactly.
Kyle Busch Ready For “Whole Different Game” at Dover’s Würth 400
Busch, surprised to learn it had been so long since a pole winner had won a race at the “Monster Mile,” was confident as always during his media availability following Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions.
“This place is really different from practice and qualifying into the race,” Busch said. “The race is certainly a whole different game.”
That is especially likely to be true this weekend, as Saturday’s weather was much colder and cloudier than the forecast for Sunday. A hot and sunny day is expected for the Cup Series race day, and Busch went as far as to say that today’s results will not be indicative at all of what’s set to happen in the Würth 400.
That doesn’t mean Busch isn’t still proud of the pole-winning team effort.
“Track position plays a big role, pit stops play a big role (and) having the No. 1 pit stall will hopefully help,” Busch said. “The strategy here is to obviously stay up front.”
Busch’s No. 8 car will likely end up with better odds to win than the 25-1 he entered Saturday with and could now be a better DFS option priced at $9,000 on DraftKings.
“You would think if you start on the pole and lead every lap, you win the race, but that’s not always the case, so you just gotta play it out,” Busch said.
“It’s a race. That’s why we race them.”
Thanks for reading, and be sure to catch us live every Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. EST on The Backroad! Good luck this week!
*Photo Credit: Matthew O’Haren – USA TODAY Sports*