Ryan Blaney earned the pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International in New York on August 10, 2025. Clocking in the fastest lap time of 1:11.960, Blaney will start at the front for Sunday’s event on the 2.45-mile road course ahead of a field of competitive drivers.
Full Starting Lineup Revealed After Qualifying Sessions
The qualifying rounds at Watkins Glen set the starting grid for the NASCAR Cup Series race. Following Blaney’s leading lap, Shane van Gisbergen and Chase Briscoe secured the second and third positions with times of 1:11.993 and 1:11.997, respectively. Ross Chastain and Kyle Busch completed the top five starters, rounding out a strong front pack for the race.
Below is the complete list of the starting positions along with each driver’s best qualifying lap:
1. Ryan Blaney – 1:11.960
2. Shane van Gisbergen – 1:11.993
3. Chase Briscoe – 1:11.997
4. Ross Chastain – 1:12.081
5. Kyle Busch – 1:12.144
6. Michael McDowell – 1:12.180
7. Alex Bowman – 1:12.199
8. Carson Hocevar – 1:12.200
9. Christopher Bell – 1:12.210
10. William Byron – 1:12.215
Positions 11 through 40 include notable drivers such as Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Austin Cindric, Bubba Wallace, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and many others, all eager to challenge for positions throughout the race distance.
Practice Times Add Context to Race Preparations at Watkins Glen
Practice sessions ahead of qualifying showcased a close competition as well. Justin Haley posted the fastest practice time at 1:12.674, narrowly edging out Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher, who followed closely. Interestingly, Ryan Blaney’s practice time was slightly slower than his pole-winning lap, highlighting improvements and fine-tuning of his setup between sessions.
The practice times lined up many drivers with similar performance, indicating a highly competitive race is expected. The tight lap times across many drivers emphasize the intensity teams have brought to the 2.45-mile circuit in anticipation of the event.
Implications of Qualifying on Sunday’s Race Strategy and Outcome
Securing the pole position at Watkins Glen is critical given the track’s road-course nature, offering opportunities for drivers to gain track position and maintain cleanliness through its technical corners. Ryan Blaney’s top qualifying performance places him in a strong spot to control the pace at the start and potentially avoid the traffic and risk-filled mid-pack battles.
Drivers like Shane van Gisbergen and Chase Briscoe, beginning near the front, will also play key roles in shaping the race dynamics, while those starting further back will need to employ aggressive but calculated approaches to navigate through the field. The competitive depth apparent in qualifying speeds suggests a thrilling race is on the horizon for NASCAR fans watching the Watkins Glen round.
