Penske Snakes the Pack in Round One
Ryan Blaney secured the pole at EchoPark Speedway with a 30.815‑second run, edging teammate Joey Logano by 0.036 seconds and positioning the No. 12 Team Penske Ford at the front of the field.
Wind‑Streaked Conditions Force a Spin
The day’s hot, breezy climate made the track difficult, prompting Chad Finchum to spin the No. 66 car early in qualifying. Aside from that incident, several cars struggled for balance and left the track in a near‑lion‑taming, up‑and‑down motion.
Dillon, Larson, and Blaney Duel in the Second Round
In Round 2, Austin Dillon was the tenth finalist, beating Toyota champ Erik Jones by a razor‑thin 0.002 seconds for the final spot. Dillon stalked Kyle Larson, who out‑paced him by the same margin, before Blaney and Logano vaulted ahead and clinched the top two positions.
Photo credit: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images.
Front Row Stalwarts and the Top Ten Forming
Team Penske’s dominance carried through with a perfect 1‑2‑3 finish in Round 1, a result that also kept all Toyotas from the lead group. The field’s lower end showed JGR and 23XI teams out of the top 20, with Denny Hamlin 28th and Tyler Reddick 31st. The final top‑ten lineup rode from Blaney and Logano down to Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, and Brad Keselowski.
Blaney Looks Ahead to Draft and Drafty Track
Blaney emphasized the unpredictable nature of the race: “How it reacts in traffic, to track changes, and the tires after laps,” he said, adding that the draft will be a key factor. While pleased with the pole win, he stressed the practice session’s absence could mask potential setup issues for the night’s competition.
"