Kyle Kirkwood Clinches Nashville Pole Over Oval Star Josef Newgarden

Kyle Kirkwood takes pole at Nashville Superspeedway, edging Josef Newgarden in qualifying for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls.

The No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda averages 196.852 mph over two laps, Kirkwood’s first pole this season and the fourth of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career.

Running late in the order, he converted pace from the morning practice session, crediting Andretti’s trim approach and balance for the decisive lap.

Josef Newgarden responds with 196.642 mph in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet, despite a lingering foot injury from Indianapolis.

The run underscores his oval dominance, delivered in oppressive heat with 94-degree air and a 130-degree track surface.

Team Penske’s depth shows as Scott McLaughlin claims third at 196.087 mph in the No. 3 Odyssey Battery entry, reinforcing a strong baseline across the camp.

Alex Palou places fourth at 196.050 mph for Chip Ganassi Racing, with teammate Scott Dixon fifth at 195.802 mph on the 1.33-mile concrete oval.

Alexander Rossi completes row three, clocking 195.664 mph for ECR, as qualifying form hints at a three-team fight in race trim.

Practice brought the day’s major incident, as David Malukas suffered a heavy crash and skipped qualifying. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

His No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet will start last in the 25-car field if he is cleared for Sunday’s 300-lap race.

The front-running picture is nuanced. Andretti’s straight-line efficiency meets Penske’s long-run muscle, while Ganassi’s race-day adaptability remains a known strength.

Operationally, Nashville’s demands extend beyond setup, as teams manage heat, tire wear, and timing on a concrete surface. That context follows a busy week of special delivery to Nashville.

Palou and Dixon’s qualifying positions align with Ganassi’s season-long consistency, reflected earlier in the year in the XPEL Grand Prix recap.

The race is scheduled for approximately 5:30 p.m. ET Sunday, dependent on the FIFA World Cup Final’s finish, and will air on FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio.

With Kirkwood on pole and Newgarden alongside, strategy windows, traffic management, and heat resilience are likely to decide Nashville’s 300-lap outcome.

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Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.