Coverage of Qualifying for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 1:10pm/et.
TV: SPEED - 1:00pm/et
Scheduled qualifying re-air: none

August 2011 Pole Sitter: #16-Greg Biffle, 190.345mph, finished 20th

June 2011 Pole Sitter: #2-Kurt Busch, 188.599mph, finished 11th

Track Qualifying Record: #12-Ryan Newman, June 2005, 194.232mph

Oldest Pole Winner: Dale Jarrett, 45 years, 6 months, 21 days, 6/16/2002

Young Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon, 23 years, 10 months, 14 days, 6/18/1995

Fastest First Practice Speed: #55-Martin, 201.376mph, scheduled to qualify 45th out of 45 drivers

NOTE: no longer doing semi-live qualifying on Jayski.com.
NASCAR.com and FoxSports have live realtime qualifying and hits for my qualifying pages were way down in 2011 due to the availabilty of the real-time qualifying found at those sites.
Will continue to post Jayski.com's unique qualifying results below, to help explain how drivers made the race.
For Realtime qualifying, check out:
NASCAR.com and FoxSports

Ambrose wins pole at Michigan with new track record: #9-Marcos Ambrose won the pole for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway with a NEW TRACK RECORD speed of 203.241mph for his 1st pole of 2012 and of his career which puts Ambrose in the 2013 Shootout. #29-Harvick was 2nd fastest followed by #16-Biffle, #5-Kahne, #39-Newman, $17-Kenseth, #21-Bayne, #14-Stewart, #20-Logano and #48-Johnson.
40 drivers, including one who missed the race [#30-Stremme] ran faster laps then the old track record of 194.232mph. 19 drivers ran over 200mph.
The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #21-Bayne, #33-Dillon, #23-Riggs, #98-McDowell, #19-Bliss, #26-Wise, #87-Nemechek and #49-Yeley.
The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (2): #30-Stremme & #74-Compton
See qualifying results & starting lineup below or on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(6-16-2012)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Michigan International Speedway:
#9-Marcos Ambrose won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 44th Annual Quicken Loans 400 with a lap of 35.426 seconds, 203.241 mph, a new track record.
This is his first pole in 134 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
Ambrose becomes the fourth driver to win the pole with a lap over 200 mph. The others are Benny Parsons, Cale Yarborough and Bill Elliott.
Ambrose's speed of 203.241 mph is the 11th-fastest pole-winning speed in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.
This is his sixth top-10 start in 2012.
#29-Kevin Harvick (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2012 and his eighth in 23 races at Michigan International Speedway.
#16-Greg Biffle (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Michigan International Speedway. It is his 11th in 15 races this season.
40 drivers posted a faster lap than the previous Michigan track qualifying record of 194.232 mph, set by Ryan Newman in 2005.(NASCAR Statistics)(6-16-2012)

Pole Progression: (who had the pole first, who got it next and who ended up with it)
#10-Raines, 1st out to qualify, 188.216mph, starts 41st
#32-Schrader, 2nd out, 190.638, starts 40th
#93-Kvapil, 3rd out, 193.107, starts 39th
#74-Compton, 4th out, 193.606, DNQ
#2-Keselowski, 5th out, 198.473, TRACK RECORD, starts 25th
#78-Smith, 9th out, 200.725, TRACK RECORD, starts 12th
#29-Harvick, 13th out, 202.037, TRACK RECORD, starts 2nd
#9-Ambrose, 20th out, 203.241, TRACK RECORD, starts 1st

How did the non Top-35 teams do in qualifying?
Fastest 7 get in, 8th [43rd] spot goes to most recent past champ not in the race already or 8th fastest
[45 entered for 43 spots]:
have qualified for the race:
#21-Trevor Bayne, 201.444
#33-Austin Dillon, 199.540
#23-Scott Riggs, 199.474
#98-Michael McDowell, 198.118
#19-Mike Bliss, 197.780
#26-Josh Wise#, 197.669
#87-Joe Nemechek, 196.770
#49-J.J. Yeley, 195.117
will miss the race:
#30-David Stremme, 194.295
#74-Stacy Compton, 193.606

Some qualifying notes:
#29-Harvick got out of groove on warm up lap, stopped on track turned around to restart his lap, ended up taking provisional pole after 13 cars.
#99-Edwards went out 28th, felt the engine flutter on warm-up lap, turned around to make another attempt, but on his 2nd warm-up lap, the car would not get up to speed and the run was aborted.

Happy Hour practice for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, after 80 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and some notes:
#16-Biffle 204.708
#9-Ambrose 203.551
#29-Harvick 202.954
#99-Edwards 202.943
#27-Menard 201.737
14 drivers were over 200 mph.
slowest: #10-Raines 191.494 & #32-Schrader 192.318
#1-McMurray, slapped the wall midway thru practice, but the team is making repairs to the car, mostly right side damage.
See top speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Happy Hour Practice Speeds page (pdf).(6-15-2012)

1st Friday practice for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, after 80 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and some notes:
#55-Martin 201.376
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.803
#21-Bayne 200.700
#14-Stewart 200.736
#17-Kenseth 200.574
slowest: #10-Raines 190.562 and #32-Schrader 190.981
Ten drivers were over 200mph. 42 of 45 drivers were faster then the track record of 194.232mph.
This practice sets the order for qualifying with slowest going out first and fastest out last, scheduled for Saturday, June 16th at 1:00pm/et on SPEED.
Happy Hour practice is scheduled for 3:00pm/et this afternoon and run 80 minutes.
See top speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(6-15-2012)

Go-or-go homers: where did the 10 cars outside the top-35 in owners points practice at Michigan
these drivers would make the race if the things stay the same:
#21-Bayne 3rd fastest overall
#33-Dillon 13th
#98-McDowell 19th
#19-Bliss 21st
#23-Riggs 27th
#49-Yeley 28th
#26-Wise 29th
#87-Nemechek 32nd
if things stay the same, these drivers would miss the race
#30-Stremme 34th
#74-Compton 42nd
(6-15-2012)

Track records shattered in NASCAR practice at MIS UPDATES: The Sprint Cup Series qualifying record at Michigan International Speedway has been broken unofficially by several cars already this morning, at a special NASCAR test to acclimatize drivers to the newly repaved oval. Toyota driver #56-Martin Truex Jr. became the first NASCAR driver in MIS history to turn a 200-mph lap when he hit 200.261 this morning. Chevy's #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was right behind him, at 200.206. Chevy drivers #42-Juan Pablo Montoya (199.440 mph) and #29-Kevin Harvick (199.236 mph) also flirted with the 200-mph threshold. #18-Kyle Busch went 194.789 in his Toyota and #24-Jeff Gordon 194.610 in another Chevrolet. The old track record was 194.232, set by Ryan Newman in a Dodge in 2005.(Detroit Free Press)
UPDATES as I see or hear them on the speeds: #55-Martin fastest at Michigan with lap of 201.089 mph in testing. Then Harvick (200.999), Truex (200.306) & Dale Jr. (200.206).(Dustin Long Twitter)
Practice can be followed live on NASCAR.com's Leaderboard
The top five as of 11:00am/et after 3 hours of testing:
#55-Martin 201.089
#29-Harvick 200.999
#56-Truex Jr. 200.306
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.206
#14-Stewart 199.856
41 cars have run laps so far with 39 over the old track record.
The best 10 lap average was run by #18-Kyle Busch at 197.065mph.
4 cars didn't test: #19-Bliss, #10-Raines, #32-Schrader & #49-Yeley.
See the speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Test Session 1 Speeds page (pdf)
Test Session 2 - afternoon: top five speeds at end of the session:
#14-Stewart 201.896
#16-Biffle 201.556
#51-Busch 201.174
#29-Harvick 200.697
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.658
7 cars were over 200mph, 43 cars have made runs with ALL being faster then the track record speed.
2 cars didn't test: #10-Raines and #32-Schrader.
See the speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Test Session 2 Speeds page (pdf)
No restrictor plates planned at MIS: NASCAR officials said they have no plan to add restrictor plates used at Daytona and Talladega to reduce speeds. Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton expected speeds to slow on their own as the track rubbers in and the temperature rises. Series director John Darby said NASCAR has a speed at which liftoff is a concern as is the case at Daytona and Talladega, and "we're not there yet."(ESPN)(6-14-2012)

Race info at: Race Info Page

Event Entry List

Past Champions Provisional page

All Time Sprint Cup Pole Winners

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying procedures:
1) qualifying order will be determined by the driver's fastest lap in first practice.
2) times on the speed sheet will be inverted with the slowest cars attempting their qualifying runs first
3) go-or-go-home cars will now qualify among the 35 teams locked in on owner points and not be separated by the field. 4) the NASCAR Sprint Cup director does reserve the right to change a driver's qualifying order or allow "adjustments or repairs" to cars after the car has taken the green flag at the start/finish line.
5) all cars must qualify with a full fuel cell.
6) qualifying consists of two consecutive timed laps (except at road courses, 1 lap)
7) the fastest lap determines qualifying position
8) in case of a rain-out of practice, a random drawing will be held for cars set up in the garage area to determine qualifying order
9) if qualifying is rained out, the order of the field will be set according to Section 9-5 of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup rule book.

If first practice is run, but qualifying is unable to take place, the starting lineup will be based on speeds from the car's fastest lap from the first practice, with top-35 cars in owner points no longer segregated from the non-top 35 cars. Previously, the top 35 cars lined up in front of all other eligible car owners.(NASCAR)(7-7-2011)

Past Champions Provisional Berths in Sprint Cup: A past champion's provisional may be used by an eligible driver a maximum of six times over the course of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. A team with a past champion eligible driver may only use this provisional a maximum of six times during a season. The provisional gives the eligible driver the 43rd and final starting position in the race field. This is only for a team/driver OUTSIDE the top-35 in owners points, drivers whose team is in the top-35 in owners points, would already be guaranteed in the field and not need the Past Champions Provisional
See my Past Champions Provisional Page for more.

What happens if all qualifying gets cancelled [rain/weather/other]?
If bad weather cancels qualifying, the final starting lineup will be determined by practice speeds. The same rule book procedures will be used to determine eligibility to start a race. If weather cancels practice sessions, then the starting lineup will be set by points, per the rule book.

If qualifying AND all practices are cancled, then:
If it is during the first 5 races of the season, the previous season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - Previous season Owner Points [position 1-35][team does not have to attempt all the races]
#2) - Race winners from the previous and current season not already in the field
#3) - Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 or 2
#4) - Current season Owner Position [Top 35][not in by rules 1-3]
#5) - Current season race attempts ties broken by current owners position [not in by rules 1-4]
#6) - For 2nd race of season, teams that missed Daytona 500, are seeded in owners points by thier finish in the Duels
#7) - Randon Draw if more then one team with no attempts

If qualifying is cancled by at least one practice gets run, then:
If it is the first 5 races of the season, the previous season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - Previous season Owner Points [position 1-35][team does not have to attempt all the races]
#2) - Race winners from the previous and current season not already in the field
#3) - Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 or 2
#4) - Current season Owner Position [Top 35][not in by rules 1-3]
#5) - Current season race attempts ties broken by current owners position [not in by rules 1-4]
#6) - For 2nd race of season, teams that missed Daytona 500, are seeded in owners points by thier finish in the Duels
#7) - Randon Draw if more then one team with no attempts
#8) - One it is determined which teams/driver made the race, then the field is set by 1st practice speeds.

What happens if just qualifying is cancelled?
If it is during the first 5 races of the season, the previous season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - Previous season Owner Points [position 1-35][team does not have to attempt all the races]
#2) - Race winners from the previous and current season not already in the field
#3) - Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 or 2
#4) - Current season Owner Position [Top 35][not in by rules 1-3]
#5) - Current season race attempts ties broken by current owners position [not in by rules 1-4]
#6) - For 2nd race of season, teams that missed Daytona 500, are seeded in owners points by thier finish in the Duels
#7) - Randon Draw if more then one team with no attempts
#8) - One it is determined which teams/driver made the race, then the field is set by 1st practice speeds.

What happens if just qualifying is cancelled?
AFTER the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [team does not have to attempt all the races]
#2) - Last Years Sprint Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
#3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#5) - Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4
#6) - Qualifying Attempts with current Owners points as the tie breaker
#7) - NASCAR will hold a draw for teams with no owners points / attempts
#8) - One it is determined which teams/driver made the race, then the field is set by 1st practice speeds.

NOTE: all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying procedures:
1) qualifying order will be determined by the driver's fastest lap in first practice.
2) times on the speed sheet will be inverted with the slowest cars attempting their qualifying runs first
3) go-or-go-home cars will now qualify among the 35 teams locked in on owner points and not be separated by the field. 4) the NASCAR Sprint Cup director does reserve the right to change a driver's qualifying order or allow "adjustments or repairs" to cars after the car has taken the green flag at the start/finish line.
5) all cars must qualify with a full fuel cell.
6) qualifying consists of two consecutive timed laps (except at road courses, 1 lap)
7) the fastest lap determines qualifying position
8) in case of a rain-out of practice, a random drawing will be held for cars set up in the garage area to determine qualifying order
9) if qualifying is rained out, the order of the field will be set according to Section 9-5 of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup rule book.