In a standout qualifying session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Joey Logano secured the first position for Ford, leading a sweep of the top three spots. The three-time NASCAR Cup champion was euphoric after achieving his 33rd career pole position and the second of the season. Logano completed a lap in 29.159 seconds, reaching a speed of 130.622 mph aboard the number 22 Ford on the 1.058-mile oval. This is the first time the driver from Middletown, Connecticut, has secured the pole at New Hampshire, the scene of his first Cup victory in June 2009.
Ryan Blaney, teammate, qualified second in the No. 12 Ford, securing Team Penske’s front row for the second time this season. For Penske, this is the 11th pole at New Hampshire.“It’s my home track,” declared Logano, who also won in New Hampshire in 2014. “It feels really good to run well here. Hopefully we can capitalize on this.”
Joey Logano
“I feel good for Sunday,” Blaney stated, who matched his best starting position in New Hampshire with a lap that was 0.170 seconds behind Logano. “I thought I was close to getting the pole until I saw the time. What a lap by Joey and his team. It’s great to have a Penske front row”.
Ryan BlaneyJosh Berry, with the number 21 Ford of Wood Brothers Racing, which has a competitive alliance with Penske, qualified third. This result represents a recovery after having been eliminated with three consecutive last places in the first round of the playoffs. Tyler Reddick finished in fourth position, followed by William Byron in fifth place, consolidating the playoff drivers in four of the top five starting positions. After dominating the first round with three consecutive victories, Joe Gibbs Racing faced difficulties on Saturday at a track where they had won three times in a row. Denny Hamlin was the team’s top qualifier in ninth place, while Christopher Bell, the favorite before the race, and winner of two of the last three Cup races in New Hampshire, qualified in 19th position. The starting positions for the rest of the playoff drivers are: Ross Chastain in eighth place, Bubba Wallace in 14th, Kyle Larson in 16th, Chase Briscoe in 18th, Austin Cindric in 22nd, and Chase Elliott in 27th.
