Speed eyes Cup after ARCA pole

The Californian, who is racing at Michigan for the first time, was the only driver to lap below the 39-second mark in what was his first qualifying run of the weekend, given that he will also compete in the Craftsman Truck Series race at the two-mile oval on Saturday afternoon.

"I've never raced at Michigan but this track is significant to me because this was the very first race that my fiancee Valentina and I came to with Red Bull when we were starting to talk about running stock cars," said Speed.

"We're just taking it in stride. There is a Cup car waiting for me, when the situation is right with the team and if I feel comfortable with it we will make the move.

"Racing in the trucks has increased my learning curve, especially with guys like (Ron) Hornaday, (Mike) Skinner and (Johnny) Benson. They are Cup-quality drivers and I've learned a lot from them."

Speed's Eddie Sharp Racing teammate Justin Lofton will start Friday's race beside him after lapping more than two tenths off from the pole position time.

A number of current Cup drivers have won in the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Michigan in the past, including Casey Mears, Reed Sorenson and former Ganassi driver David Stremme.