The five drivers that failed to qualify for the race were David Stremme, Travis Kvapil, Eric Darnell, J. J. Yeley, and Scott Wimmer.
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Kurt Busch was third in the Drivers' Championship with 641 points, four ahead of Kevin Harvick and nine ahead of Kyle Busch in fourth and fifth.
2011 | 2011 ATP Challenger Tour | 2011 ATP World Tour | 2011 Rugby World Cup | 400 metres | 2011 ITF Women's Circuit | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami | 2011 Pan American Games | 2011 Christchurch earthquake | 2011 Summer Universiade | 2011 Pacific Games | Miss Universe 2011 | 2011 Copa América | Forbes 400 | Eurovision Song Contest 2011 | 2011 WTA Tour | 2011 in radio | Canadian federal election, 2011 | 400 metres hurdles | 2011 Southeast Asian Games | 2011 in paleontology | 2011 Cricket World Cup | men's 4×400 m relay | Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay | 2011 World Championships in Athletics | 2011 in music | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup | 2011–12 NCAA football bowl games | Boeing 747-400 | Mexico at the 2011 Pan American Games |