Chase Briscoe Dominates Qualifying at Indianapolis
Chase Briscoe, showcasing his prowess on the track, secured a place in NASCAR history by earning the pole position in all three crown jewel races in a single season. On Saturday, Briscoe clocked an impressive time of 183.165 mph, securing the top spot for the Brickyard 400.
This historic achievement positions him as the first driver to achieve such a feat, surpassing Bubba Wallace, who had led the classification until the last moment.
Briscoe, who competes for Joe Gibbs Racing, has accumulated nine poles in his career, five of them obtained in the current season, including those of the Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. Now, in his home state, he has the opportunity to complete the sweep of the crown races in the Southern 500 at the end of August.
Briscoe’s victory in the qualifying for the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway coincides with a special personal moment, as his sister got married in Indiana the same weekend. Despite his achievements, Briscoe is still looking for his first victory at the Brickyard.
Bubba Wallace, with a lap of 183.117 mph, will share the front row with Briscoe. The qualifying also saw five Toyota vehicles dominate the top spots, a milestone for the engine manufacturer.
The qualifying session took place after a rescheduled practice due to the rain that prevented Friday’s practice.
Ty Gibbs, Briscoe’s teammate, is shaping up as a contender in NASCAR’s mid-season challenge, securing fifth place on the grid with a speed of 182.445. Ty Dillon will start from the 26th position. The winner of the challenge will take home a $1 million prize.
Denny Hamlin, the winner of last week’s race, will face a significant challenge starting from the back of the grid, in 39th place, after an accident in qualifying. Hamlin seeks his first victory at the Brickyard and the opportunity to be the fifth driver to complete the sweep of the crown races. The 44-year-old driver recently signed a two-year contract extension with JGR.
Kyle Larson, the defending race champion, will start from the 13th position.
