Joey Logano captured the pole at WWT Raceway with a 32.817‑second lap, the fastest in track history and the biggest winning margin since 2017.
Logano’s record‑setting launch
The 32.817‑second run set a new benchmark at Gateway, eclipsing Kyle Busch’s 2017 record by 0.001 seconds. Logano’s margin over the nearest competitor, Kyle Larson, was 0.276 seconds.
“We need to score max points here,” Logano said. “Starting up front will help that for sure.” He added that his lap felt average, underscoring the lap’s extraordinary speed.
Championship contenders in the top stretch
Ryan Blaney qualified third, Christopher Bell fourth and Chase Briscoe fifth. Team Penske’s high finish set a strong tone for the rest of the Drivers’ Championship race.
Other front‑row presence featured Carson Hocevar, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs and standing‑point leader Denny Hamlin in the top ten.
Back‑half battles and track turbulence
Connor Zilisch opened the session, but by the midway point Zane Smith posted a 33.420‑second lap, briefly topping the speed chart. Shifts in the backswing also saw Shane van Gisbergen and Michael McDowell falter on their runs.
Alex Bowman, after the back‑half, slipped to third overall as Josh Berry suffered a loss of control at turns 1 and 2. William Byron and Ryan Preece also lost time sliding up the track during turn 4, yet no incidents occurred despite the tricky surface.
Chase field spread through the field
- Austin Cindric – 13th
- Ryan Preece – 14th
- Daniel Suarez – 15th
- Tyler Reddick – 18th
- Chris Buescher – 21st
- William Byron – 24th
Implications for the upcoming race
Logano’s dominant qualification places Team Penske at an early strategic advantage for the race at WWT Raceway. The time gaps show the potential for a tight battle among the top contenders, especially as the track’s set‑up is only suited for capitalizing on speed.
With the qualifiers in place, the field now readies for a high‑intensity contest, and the stage is set for a run that promises to unfold at the front of the grid.
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