Chase Briscoe Claims Third Straight NASCAR Cup Pole

Chase Briscoe grabbed his third straight pole position in the NASCAR Cup Series, edging out Kyle Busch at Michigan International Speedway. Briscoe, driving the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, turned a fast lap of 195.514 mph to take the top spot for Sunday’s race.

This marks his fourth pole of the season, and he shared after qualifying that he tried running lower on the track, aiming to cut distance, though it pushed him higher than expected at corner exit. Even with the unexpected outcome, Briscoe said he was glad to earn another pole and hopes that this strong Saturday showing finally leads him to his first victory since joining JGR.

Lining up next to Briscoe will be Kyle Busch, who drives the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Busch, dealing with a winless streak now stretching over 70 races, admitted he was surprised by his qualifying speed.

Despite struggling with car feel in practice and making several adjustments, Busch said his Chevrolet posted a solid lap. He hopes that starting on the front row and having good pit stall selection will help him gain an advantage in the race, especially since track position has become so important in recent seasons.

Denny Hamlin qualified third in the No. 11 Toyota, with William Byron taking fourth and Kyle Larson rounding out the top five. Larson’s fifth-place spot comes after he escaped a wild sprint car crash the night before. For more on Kyle Larson’s recent form, see his details on worst qualifying.

Chris Buescher placed sixth, followed by Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace, and Zane Smith, filling out the rest of the top ten. Defending Michigan winner Tyler Reddick will start from the 12th position, while Ryan Blaney, fresh off a win at Nashville and recovering from a cut tire in practice, starts 13th.

Qualifying saw speeds approach 200 mph, with drivers running nearly flat-out over the two-mile oval. Several mentionably fast qualifiers, like Reddick and Blaney, had suffered tire problems during earlier sessions but avoided car damage before putting in their official times.

The field features a competitive mix of veterans and rising talents, with top teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Richard Childress Racing all represented at the front. The tight qualifying margins and high speeds have set the stage for a fast-paced and closely contested race at Michigan.

With Briscoe now leading the field to green for three consecutive weekends, the question is whether his dominance in qualifying can be transformed into success on race day. He expressed hope that this run of poles will finally break his winless streak at JGR.

Fans can expect pit strategy and tire management to play a critical role as drivers chase victory at one of NASCAR’s fastest tracks. The energy is high in the paddock as teams prepare for the next challenge, knowing how vital track position will be when the green flag drops.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.