54 Team Qualifies 5th in Montreal

Date: Aug. 17, 2012
Event: Napa Auto Parts 200 Qualifying (Round 22 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Nationwide Series
Location: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (2.709 -mile Road course)
Pole Winner: Alex Tagliani of Turner Motorsports (100.865 seconds at 96.688 mph)
Owen Kelly for Kyle Busch: 5th, 101.415 seconds at 96.163 mph

The No. 54 Monster Energy team had the support of Tasmania, Australia’s Owen Kelly, who was enlisted to drive the car today while Kyle was in Michigan qualifying his No. 18 Interstate Batteries NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camry. Through 15 circuits in practice one, and four circuits in practice two, the team felt the car was set up the way Kyle would like it, posting lap times in the top ten of the field.

Upon the qualifying effort, Kelly backed up what the team saw earlier in the day, posting a fifth fastest speed of 96.163mph. Alex Tagliani won the pole with a speed of 96.688mph. Tomorrow after Sprint Cup practice, Busch will make the trip from Michigan to Montreal via plane, helicopter and boat, and will arrive to the garage area within one hour of the green flag. Due to the driver change, the No. 54 will start from the rear of the field, similar to what the team experienced last week.

Busch will look to become the first NASCAR driver to win in three countries on a road course. (He previously won in Mexico City, Mexico and Watkins Glen, NY).

The green flag will take place at 2:30pm EST With Live coverage on ESPN beginning with the pre-race show at 2:00pm EST.