Pocono Raceway is always unpredictable, and Friday's on track action proved to be no different.

Stewart Haas Racing's Kurt Busch prevailed in a qualifying session that turned chaotic following a late spin by Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin in the final knockout stage of qualifying to claim the pole for Sunday's Axalta 'We Paint Winners' 400 with a lap of 50.676 (177.599).

The pole was a surprise for Busch, who wasn't sure what he had in the car when the team unloaded.

"Wow, what a day, today. I feel like there are six corners out there as hard as I was working; corner entry, corner exit," said Busch. "The car was just off-balance, especially with the new bumps in Turn 2. And then we got way loose.

"I think we were 30th in practice. And we had to drop back and punt. (former crew chief) Daniel Knost, his set-up, is what we reverted to from last year when we qualified outside pole. So, that's what it's all about, team communication and working hard together as a group. So, that's to (co-owners) Gene Haas and Tony Stewart and everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing to be a pole-sitter today."

Carl Edwards will start second (50.690), Martin Truex Jr. third (50.698), Jeff Gordon fourth (50.787) and Kevin Harvick fifth (50.790).