NASCAR Cup Series qualifying ahead of the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega is complete, with Zane Smith set to start Sunday’s race from pole position. Smith recorded the fastest lap time of 52.656 seconds around the 2.66-mile tri-oval, marking his first-ever pole position in the Cup Series. His dramatic performance came at the last moment, cruelly denying Kyle Busch a much-anticipated pole position, which he has not achieved since Dover last year, almost a year ago to the day.
Despite not securing the top spot, it was a strong showing for Busch in the No. 8 Chevrolet, as he will start Sunday’s race in second. His qualifying run was impressive, given the dominance displayed by the Ford cars this session. Indeed, seven of the top ten starters in Sunday’s event will be Ford-powered vehicles, with only Busch, Austin Dillon in fifth, and Ty Gibbs in tenth representing other manufacturers.
The excitement surrounding the qualifying session was palpable, especially as drivers pushed to the limit for a coveted front-row starting position. Smith’s remarkable lap not only secured him the pole but also showcased the competitive nature of the sport, reminding fans how unpredictable NASCAR can be. Busch acknowledged the challenges posed by the Ford cars and expressed his determination to capitalize on his strong qualifying position. “We had a great car today,” he commented, reflecting on his performance. “It’s just unfortunate not to get the pole, but we’ll be right there in the mix come race time.”
The complete starting lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is as follows:
1. Zane Smith (38) – Front Row Motorsports Ford – 52.565
2. Kyle Busch (8) – Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet – 52.697
3. Joey Logano (22) – Team Penske Ford – 52.700
4. Ryan Preece (60) – RFK Racing Ford – 52.700
5. Austin Dillon (3) – Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet – 52.736
6. Chris Buescher (17) – RFK Racing Ford – 52.761
7. Austin Cindric (2) – Team Penske Ford – 52.780
8. Josh Berry (21) – Wood Brothers Racing Ford – 52.795
9. Ryan Blaney (12) – Team Penske Ford – 52.833
10. Ty Gibbs (54) – Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – 52.951
11. Christopher Bell (20) – Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12. Cole Custer (41) – Haas Factory Team Ford
13. Denny Hamlin (11) – Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
14. Michael McDowell (71) – Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
15. Todd Gilliland (34) – Front Row Motorsports Ford
16. William Byron (24) – Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
17. Chase Briscoe (19) – Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
18. Alex Bowman (48) – Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
19. AJ Allmendinger (16) – Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
20. Bubba Wallace (23) – 23XI Racing Toyota
21. Ty Dillon (10) – Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
22. Brad Keselowski (6) – RFK Racing Ford
23. Riley Herbst (35) – 23XI Racing Toyota
24. Daniel Suárez (99) – Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
25. Kyle Larson (5) – Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
26. Tyler Reddick (45) – 23XI Racing Toyota
27. Noah Gragson (4) – Front Row Motorsports Ford
28. Carson Hocevar (77) – Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
29. John Hunter Nemechek (42) – Legacy Motor Club Toyota
30. Chase Elliott (9) – Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
31. Anthony Alfredo (62) – Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
32. Ross Chastain (1) – Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
33. Cody Ware (51) – Rick Ware Racing Ford
34. Erik Jones (43) – Legacy Motor Club Toyota
35. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) – Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
36. Shane van Gisbergen (88) – Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
37. Justin Haley (7) – Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
38. BJ McLeod (78) – Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
39. JJ Yeley (44) – NY Racing Team Chevrolet
The outcome of this qualifying session not only sets the stage for a thrilling race but also raises questions about the competitive landscape, particularly regarding how Kyle Busch and others will tackle the challenges posed by their Ford competitors. Fans will certainly be eager to see how this race unfolds on Sunday, with Busch aiming to leverage his second-place start into a strong performance on the track.
