Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
Ryan Blaney takes pole at Phoenix as Kyle Larson qualifies 22nd
Ryan Blaney took pole for the NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway after setting the fastest lap in Saturday qualifying.
His Team Penske teammate Joey Logano qualified second, giving the team the front row.
Kyle Larson, the championship leader, will start 22nd despite entering the race with a 49-point lead.
Larson and Carson Hocevar, who qualified 28th, both had difficult laps, but qualifying ended without incidents.
Starting position could matter: the Phoenix winner has started in the top 15 in each of the past 18 races.
The last driver to win from outside the top 20 was Ryan Newman in 2017, when he also started 22nd.
Blaney has won the last two Cup races at Phoenix, but he said the warmer, sunny conditions expected Sunday could change the track, so his team will adjust its car before the race.
Ryan Blaney took pole position for the NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday.
He completed the mile tri-oval in 26.250 seconds, 0.032 seconds faster than teammate Joey Logano.
Kyle Larson, the playoff leader, qualified 22nd and enters Sunday’s race 49 points ahead of Denny Hamlin.
Chase Briscoe qualified third, Hamlin fourth and Christopher Bell fifth.
Blaney is fifth in the playoff standings and is seeking his third consecutive win at Phoenix.
- Who
- Ryan Blaney took pole; Kyle Larson qualified 22nd.
- What
- Blaney secured the pole for the NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway.
- When
- Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026; the race is scheduled for Sunday.
- Where
- Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Blaney took pole at Phoenix Raceway, with Larson qualifying 22nd.
The NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway is scheduled to take place.
- Blaney's lap
- 26.250 seconds
- Pole margin
- 0.032 seconds ahead of Joey Logano
- Larson's qualifying position
- 22nd
- Larson's playoff lead
- 49 points over Denny Hamlin
- Blaney's playoff standing
- Fifth
- Starting row
- Blaney and Logano, both Team Penske drivers, occupy the front row
4 sources
Ryan Blaney wins pole at Phoenix Raceway while NASCAR postseason leader Kyle Larson to start 22nd
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Ryan Blaney on pole, Kyle Larson struggles
Blaney takes Cup Series pole at Phoenix as Larson gets buried in the pack
Blaney wins pole at Phoenix; NASCAR playoff leader Larson to start 22nd
What people are saying
It’s big to start the race up towards the front and try to get some stage points and stuff like that.
Proud of the lap for sure.