KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Chase Briscoe earned his seventh NASCAR pole position of the year on Saturday at Kansas Speedway, leading a front-row sweep for Joe Gibbs Racing. Briscoe’s consistent speed across multiple tracks this season has positioned him as a dominant qualifier.
Briscoe has clinched poles at several prominent races including the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, Nashville, Michigan, Indianapolis, Iowa, and now Kansas, showcasing his strong qualifying performances throughout the 2024 season.
Top Qualifiers and Starting Lineup Insights
Briscoe posted a lap of 180.078 mph to secure the top spot, while his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin qualified alongside him on the front row with a speed of 179.474 mph. Reflecting on his team’s performance, Briscoe said,
“Our cars are just really good,”
and added,
“When your cars are good it just allows you to be a lot more aggressive.”
The second row features Hendrick Motorsports drivers Kyle Larson, at 179.396 mph, and Chase Elliott, with 179.063 mph. Elliott’s position marks his best starting spot over the previous six races, signaling a positive shift for the driver.
Christopher Bell contributed to Joe Gibbs Racing’s strong showing by qualifying fifth with a lap speed of 179.015 mph, securing three of the top five positions for the team.
Challenges for Team Penske Riders
In contrast to Joe Gibbs Racing’s success, Team Penske faced setbacks during qualifying. Ryan Blaney experienced a tire failure early in practice that caused a crash, forcing the team to switch to a backup car and resulting in Blaney starting at the rear of the field. His teammate, Joey Logano, also suffered a tire issue during practice but managed to avoid a crash; however, his lap speed of 171.222 mph placed him 35th on the grid.
Austin Cindric hit the wall on his qualifying lap, limiting his starting position to 26th, adding to the difficult day for Team Penske.
Significance of the Pole Positions and What Lies Ahead
Briscoe’s pole achievement at Kansas Speedway underscores his continued speed and competitiveness across several key races this season. The strong performances from Joe Gibbs Racing drivers boost their chances heading into the race. Meanwhile, the difficulties faced by Team Penske highlight the unpredictable nature of qualifying and the challenges teams must overcome to position themselves well in the race.
As the field sets off with Briscoe leading, attention will focus on whether he and his team can convert qualifying success into race-day victories, maintaining momentum in the tightly contested NASCAR Cup Series season.
