FORT WORTH, Texas — Kurt Busch is on the pole for the second time in four races since his reinstatement from a suspension for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend.

Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick is right there again as well.

Busch took the top qualifying spot for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Texas on Friday, edging past the defending series champion late in the final round to set up the same 1-2 start they had in Fontana, California, three weeks ago.

The Duck Commander 500 is Saturday night on the high-banked 1 1/2-mile track. It’s the first night race of the season.

“A pole’s a pole,” Busch said after taking the top spot for the 18th time in 511 career races and the first time in Texas. “We now have to settle in to 500 miles and to be there at the end of the race tomorrow night.”

Busch turned a lap of 193.847 mph in his No. 41 Chevrolet a few moments after Harvick had taken the lead at 193.722.