MADISON, Sick. (AP) — Joey Logano secured the pole place Saturday for NASCAR’s postseason race at World Extensive Expertise Raceway, positioning himself for a wanted enhance within the championship Chase.
Logano posted a lap of 32.817 seconds on the 1 1/4-mile oval in suburban St. Louis that options tight turns on the south finish and flat, sweeping activates the north aspect. He averaged 137.124 mph and his No. 22 Ford was 0.276 seconds quicker than Kyle Larson.
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“We have some good momentum on our aspect right here lately,” mentioned Logano, who has received twice in his final seven races to climb to eighth within the level standings. “We have had some good automobiles. We have finished job. We have put ourselves again within the talks of racing for a championship.
“We could be the underdogs, however we’re very used to that. That is the place we stay, and we really feel we bought a shot to do it.”
The three-time Cup Sequence champion received the inaugural Cup race at World Extensive Expertise Raceway on his technique to the 2022 championship and has completed within the high 5 every of the previous three years. He will even have the primary pit stall Sunday, a key benefit on the second-narrowest pit street of the season.
“We really feel fairly stable about it. It has been monitor for us, and we have been ready to determine learn how to end nicely right here,” Logano mentioned. “What you do previously would not ever assure the long run.”
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Logano’s Penske teammate, Ryan Blaney (third within the Chase), certified third and was adopted by fellow championship contenders Christopher Bell (second), Chase Briscoe (fifth), Carson Hocevar (twelfth), Bubba Wallace (tenth), Chase Elliott (ninth), Ty Gibbs (sixth).
Denny Hamlin, the season factors chief and defending race champion, will begin tenth. Tyler Reddick, who’s fourth within the postseason standings, certified 18th.
Additionally within the 16-driver postseason Chase
Austin Cindric, the 2024 Gateway winner, will begin thirteenth, forward of fellow Chase drivers Ryan Preece in 14th and Daniel Suárez in fifteenth.
Chris Buescher, who’s eleventh within the Chase standings, certified twenty first and misplaced its pit stall choice and automotive chief Joshua Sisco for the weekend after his automotive failed pre-race inspection twice.
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Beginning monitor place has paid a premium within the 4 races up to now at Gateway. Hamlin (2025) and Kyle Busch (2023) received from the pole, and Cindric began second for his win two years in the past.
Logano is the one previous winner who did not begin on the entrance row, attending to Victory Lane from seventh in 2022.
“That is undoubtedly one of many tracks that we now have circled. It was one which we needs to be robust at, and the place we’re in factors, it is one we now have to be robust at,” Logano mentioned. “We do not have a lot possibility at this level.”
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