Michael McDowell starts on the pole after a record performance in qualifying on Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway.
The Front Row Motorsports driver set the track record in the opening round of qualifying at 139.241 mph, breaking the previous mark of 138.274 set by Chase Briscoe in 2022.
MORE: Cup starting lineup
McDowell took his third pole of the season in the qualifying round with a lap of 220.598 km/h, which was also above Briscoe’s former track record.
Front Row Motorsports joined Team Penske in a technical alliance and was elevated to a Level 1 level by Ford Performance before this season. The top three starting positions for Sunday’s race at the 1.25-mile track belonged to the cars of Front Row Motorsports and Team Penske.
Friday 5: Front Row Motorsports finds ways to make the charter system work for that
The recent charter purchase of Front Row Motorsports is another example of how the team has benefited from wheeling and deal charters.
Team Penske’s Austin Cindric qualified second with a lap of 140.134 mph. Teammate Ryan Blaney starts third after a lap of 217.982 km/h.
Coca-Cola 600 winner Christopher Bell qualified fourth after a lap of 220.669 km/h. Tyler Reddick rounded out the top five with a lap of 137.585 mph.
This marks the first time this season that Hendrick Motorsports did not field a driver in the final round of qualifying. The top Hendrick driver was William Byron, who will start eleventh for Sunday’s race. Kyle Larson qualified 13th, Alex Bowman 14th and Chase Elliott 17th.
The last time Hendrick Motorsports did not place a car in the final round of qualifying was last September in Texas.
Briscoe was the top Stewart-Haas Racing car, qualifying 23rd. Stewart-Haas Racing announced this week that it will cease operations after this season.
