BROOKLYN, Mich. — Matt Kenseth won the pole for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway, and Joe Gibbs Racing swept the top three spots in qualifying Friday.

Kenseth won with a lap of 197.488 mph in his No. 20 Toyota, with teammates Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards finishing second and third. Kyle Busch, another JGR driver, was sixth.

It’s the 16th career Sprint Cup pole for Kenseth and third in 2015. He’d never won the pole at MIS.

The last time one team swept the top three spots in qualifying was when Hendrick Motorsports pulled it off at this year’s Daytona 500. It’s the first time Joe Gibbs Racing has accomplished the feat.

Busch is trying to stay in the top 30 in the standings so he can qualify for the Chase, and the other three Gibbs drivers are safely in. Hamlin nearly won his second pole of the year but was beaten by Kenseth.

NASCAR WILL stick with its original 2015 rules package throughout the Chase for the Sprint Cup after switching to track-specific packages for a handful of races recently.

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A high-drag aerodynamic package was used at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month and will be in place again this weekend at Michigan, and it received some criticism from drivers. But a low-downforce package put in place at Kentucky was more popular, and it will be used again at Darlington next month.

But when the 10-race Chase begins Sept. 20 at Chicagoland, the original rules will be used.

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief racing development officer, announced the decision Friday after a meeting with drivers at Michigan.

THE PARENTS OF a sprint car driver struck and killed last year by Tony Stewart believe a wrongful death lawsuit is the only way to hold the NASCAR star accountable.

Pamela and Kevin Ward Sr. said Friday on “Good Morning America” they want justice for their 20-year-old son.

Kevin Ward Jr. was killed last August at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park when he exited his car under caution in an apparent attempt to confront Stewart. As Ward Jr. walked down the track, he was struck by Stewart’s car.

His parents said Friday they don’t believe Stewart intentionally struck Ward Jr., but Pamela Ward believes Stewart lost his temper. They also believe Stewart revved his engine and swerved toward Ward Jr.


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