At Kansas City’s 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025, Chase Briscoe secured the pole position for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race by turning a lap in 29.987 seconds, averaging 180.078 mph. The NASCAR Kansas Speedway lineup has been finalized following an intense qualifying session filled with unexpected incidents that impacted several top contenders.
Practice Sessions Marked by Tire Issues Affecting Key Drivers
The practice and qualifying rounds experienced significant setbacks for prominent drivers. Ryan Blaney suffered a tire blowout that led to a severe collision with the outside wall, forcing him to withdraw from qualifying entirely. Shortly after, Joey Logano also encountered a flat tire but managed to avoid hitting the wall, coming to a stop on the apron.
Additionally, Austin Cindric lightly clipped the wall during his qualifying lap, resulting in minor damage to the right side of his car. These incidents introduced unexpected challenges as teams scrambled to adapt before the race.
Full Starting Grid for NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway
The official starting lineup displays Chase Briscoe in P1, followed closely by Denny Hamlin, who clocked a time of 30.088 seconds. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott secured third and fourth positions respectively, while Christopher Bell rounded out the top five. Other notable starters include Bubba Wallace in 7th and Ty Gibbs in 8th place.
The full top 10 for the NASCAR Kansas Speedway lineup is as follows:
- Chase Briscoe – 29.987 seconds
- Denny Hamlin – 30.088 seconds
- Kyle Larson – 30.101 seconds
- Chase Elliott – 30.157 seconds
- Christopher Bell – 30.165 seconds
- Carson Hocevar – 30.228 seconds
- Bubba Wallace – 30.274 seconds
- Ty Gibbs – 30.289 seconds
- Ross Chastain – 30.292 seconds
- Erik Jones – 30.314 seconds
Noteworthy is that Ryan Blaney was unable to post a qualifying time due to his earlier crash. Additionally, Joey Logano’s flat tire slowed his lap to 31.538 seconds, placing him near the back of the field.
Practice Session Speed Rankings Highlight Competitiveness
During practice sessions, Chris Buescher topped the charts with a 30.672-second lap, followed by Zane Smith and Denny Hamlin. Chase Briscoe ranked eighth fastest in practice but notably improved his time during qualifying to secure the pole. This contrast highlights how critical qualifying performance is compared to practice times alone.
Impact of Qualifying Results on Race Day Prospects
Briscoe’s pole position offers him a strategic advantage on Sunday, providing a clean track ahead at the start and the chance to control early race pace at Kansas Speedway. The lineup shake-up caused by tire-related incidents will likely affect teams’ race strategies, particularly for drivers like Blaney and Logano who face recovery challenges after their practice misfortunes.
With driver skills and team setups pushed to the limit amid an intense environment, the NASCAR Kansas Speedway lineup sets the stage for an exciting and unpredictable race. Fans and teams will watch closely to see how this qualifying drama unfolds on race day and whether Briscoe can convert his pole into a strong finish.
