Chase Briscoe secured the pole position for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. This achievement marks Briscoe’s second pole of the 2025 season, having already claimed the top spot for the Daytona 500, positioning him prominently for one of NASCAR’s most prestigious crown jewel events.
Briscoe’s Remarkable Qualifying Performance at Charlotte
Briscoe described his qualifying lap as far from perfect but sufficient to secure the coveted pole position. He expressed enthusiasm about leading the field in this challenging 600-mile race and acknowledged the strong performance of his Bass Pro Shops Toyota team. Reflecting on his rare feat of obtaining pole positions for both the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same year, Briscoe remarked on how surreal the accomplishment felt given his early racing experiences, especially considering he never expected to progress beyond a single Truck race.
“I haven’t seen it yet, (but) I felt okay kind of everywhere,”
Briscoe told NASCAR on Prime.
“I felt like it wasn’t the most perfect lap by any means, but it was good enough. Just super excited to get the results on Saturday. I feel like we deserve it with Bass Pro Shops Toyota. This is obviously a great opportunity to lead the field to the green for 600 miles … Looking forward tomorrow and seeing if we can keep it up there.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
Emphasizing the significance of the race in his career, Briscoe shared how important the Coca-Cola 600 has been to him since childhood. He also highlighted the interesting coincidence of starting beside Kyle Larson, who meanwhile is competing in the Indy 500 the same day.
“This is a race I’ve watched ever since I was a little kid, and to be able to start on the front row and lead the field to green is cool. Honestly, for me, being such an Indy 500 diehard, it’s pretty neat that the guy that I’m starting beside is racing the Indy 500 on Sunday. It is definitely a cool day for sure.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
Kyle Larson Just Misses Pole, Targets Ambitious Double at Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports narrowly missed claiming the pole, finishing just 0.020 seconds behind Briscoe. Larson will attempt the challenging “Double” by racing 1,100 miles across the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in one day, starting 19th in the Indy 500 before heading to Charlotte for the NASCAR event. His strong qualifying time promises a competitive outing despite the demanding schedule.
The starting lineup features William Byron in third, with Chris Buescher and A.J. Allmendinger rounding out the top five. Other notable starters include John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson, Alex Bowman, and Christopher Bell, who complete the top ten.
Four-time Coca-Cola 600 winner Jimmie Johnson, marking his 700th career start, will begin the race from 17th position, adding star power to the field.
Qualifying Challenges and Near-Misses for Several Drivers
During the qualifying session, Carson Hocevar spun while exiting Turn 4, relegating him to the back of the field despite showing impressive speed in practice, where he posted the fastest single-lap time. Tyler Reddick also encountered difficulty after brushing the wall during his qualifying attempt.
Ross Chastain, who suffered a crash in practice after cutting a left-rear tire, opted not to make a qualifying attempt and will start last in 40th place. His absence from qualifying reshapes the grid and highlights the risks involved in preparing for the Coca-Cola 600.
Starting Times and Race Expectations
The Coca-Cola 600 will see intense competition fueled by Briscoe’s rising momentum and Larson’s ambitious bid to complete two major races in one day. Briscoe’s pole position offers a promising advantage on a demanding track, while Larson’s strong front-row starting slot establishes a high-stakes narrative for fans and participants alike.
With NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson joining the field in a milestone start and a lineup packed with talented drivers, the event promises thrilling action across 600 miles. Observers anticipate tire, strategy, and endurance to play critical roles in determining the race’s outcome.
Briscoe’s performance, combined with Larson’s challenging schedule and the mix of veterans and emerging talent, underscores the evolving competitiveness of the NASCAR circuit this season. As the race unfolds, fans will watch closely to see if Briscoe can convert his pole advantage into a race-day victory.
