Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson captured the pole for Sunday’s race at Richmond Raceway, claiming his third pole of the 2022 season.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver posted a top speed of 117.177 mph despite getting very loose as he exited Turn 2 on his qualifying lap.
“I definitely got in there a little too hot and got loose, but felt like I got through the center and off okay and made a decent (Turn 3 and 4), was hoping to see something better than a teen on my dash and saw the flat and knew that was good enough,” Larson told NBC Sports.
Larson’s previous poles this year were for the Daytona 500 and at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. Of his 13 career poles, it’s Larson second on a short track.
“Cool to get a pole here at Richmond, I was not expecting to do that. I didn’t feel very good and practice,” said Larson, who was 17th overall in practice.
Next up for Larson was a quick trip to Knoxville, Iowa, as he attempts to defend his sprint car title in the Knoxville Nationals.
“Getting a poll hopefully will lead to some confidence in Knoxville and you’ll go chase another big big win,” Larson said.”
Joining Larson on the front row will be Ross Chastain. The Trackhouse Racing driver missed out on his first career NASCAR Cup Series pole by .058 seconds.
Completing the top are Denny Hamlin, William Byron and Alex Bowman.
The only Hendrick Motorsports driver not qualify in the top five, Chase Elliott, will start 23rd.
Rounding out the top 10 was Martin Truex Jr., Cole Custer, Brad Keselowski, Erik Jones and Ryan Blaney.
For Jones, it’s the first time he’ll start in the top 10 in consecutive races this season.
Blaney, who enters Sunday’s race owning the last open spot on the playoff grid, got into the outside wall exiting Turn 2 on his run. He was 21st overall in practice.
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Saturday night saw potentially the most drastic change in performance from practice to qualifying in the Cup Series all year.
Out of the 10 drivers who went for the pole, only four of them – Hamlin, Chastain, Truex and Jones- were among the top 10 overall drivers in practice.
“I’ve never seen the lap times change like this,” Chastain told NBC Sports.
Click here for the starting lineup.
Click here for qualifying results.
PRACTICE
Before qualifying, the field was split in half for two 20-minute practice sessions.
Chastain had the top speed in the first practice group and overall at 117.514 mph, while Aric Almirola had the best 15-lap average and Chastain owned the best 10-lap average (115.419).
The top five was completed by Tyler Reddick (117.066), Austin Cindric (116.949), Almirola (116.903) and Martin Truex Jr. (116.782).
Joey Logano had the top speed in the second session (115.488), but that was only good for 13th overall.
Click here for the practice results.