Tyler Reddick earned the pole position for Sunday’s Cup playoff elimination race at the Charlotte Roval in Concord, North Carolina, edging out Shane van Gisbergen with a lap speed of 95.510 mph. Currently 29 points below the playoff cutline, Reddick aims to improve his standing with this second pole of the season.
Qualified Drivers and Their Starting Positions
Reddick previously claimed a pole earlier this year at Circuit of the Americas in March, where he finished third. Despite strong qualifying efforts, he continues to search for his first victory of the season. Shane van Gisbergen, who has started on the front row in the last five consecutive road course races and won all four, qualified second with a lap of 95.474 mph.
Ty Gibbs secured the third starting position after posting a 95.265 mph lap, followed by Kyle Larson in fourth at 95.103 mph. Chris Buescher will begin fifth with 94.912 mph, and Michael McDowell rounds out the third row starting sixth at 94.812 mph.
Playoff Cutline and Starting Spots of Key Drivers
Joey Logano, who currently holds the final transfer position to the Round of 8, will start 17th. Ross Chastain, positioned 13 points below Logano, will start 10th, while fellow drivers Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric are also behind the cutline, starting 12th and 19th respectively. Erik Jones will start last due to a power steering issue that prevented him from making a qualifying lap during practice.
Implications for the Playoff Race and What to Expect
The starting lineup puts Reddick in a promising position to challenge for his first win of the season and improve his playoff status. With van Gisbergen’s consistent front-row appearances and past victories on road courses, the competition remains intense. The race coverage is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, offering fans a critical view of playoff performances at this challenging 2.28-mile, 17-turn course.
