Pole Position Sets the Tone at Richmond Raceway
Ryan Blaney seized the front row at Richmond Raceway, recording a qualifying lap of 22.225 seconds in Team Penske’s No. 12 Ford to capture pole for Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series event.
Top Ten Leaders File Laps
- 1. Ryan Blaney – 22.225 s (No. 12 Ford)
- 2. Chase Briscoe – 22.275 s (No. 19 Toyota)
- 3. Josh Berry – 22.281 s (No. 0 Dodge)
- 4. Ty Gibbs – 22.435 s (No. 17 Dodge)
- 5. William Byron – 22.435 s (No. 98 Ford)
- 6. Ryan Preece – 22.491 s (No. 12 Ford)
- 7. Bubba Wallace – 22.491 s (No. 41 Ford)
- 8. Christopher Bell – 22.491 s (No. 60 Toyota)
- 9. Brad Keselowski – 22.491 s (No. 18 Dodge)
- 10. Joey Logano – 22.491 s (No. 18 Dodge)
Qualifying Dynamics: The Money Lap and Cloud Advantage
The “money” lap proved decisive, as the first timing pass gave No. 18 Keselowski a 22.491‑second benchmark that dominated early leaders. By lap 50‑60, drivers pushed three seconds faster from practice, a strategy that Blaney executed near the session’s end.
Blaney reflected on the session: “I appreciate the cloud. I think a handful of us got the benefit of the cloud. We had a really good day.” He added that the car’s performance in practice had been solid, and he was keen on bringing that pace under the lights.
Meanwhile, the No. 19 Toyota of Briscoe overturned Berry’s provisional pole by 0.006 seconds, cementing Blaney’s final advantage after a tight battle.
Race Field and Chase Implications
Out of the full field, 35 of 36 entries recorded a lap. Cody Ware, who spun during practice, didn’t post a lap time.
Austin Cindric, occupying the last spot in the Chase, will start 23rd in the race, a position that could influence his points sprint.
With the lineup set, teams and drivers look to the lights for a night where qualifying edges become race tactics, and Blaney’s pole time sets a high bar for the competition ahead.
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