Carson Hocevar made a strong statement with a fast lap at Texas Motor Speedway, earning the top spot for the 2025 Würth 400. The 1.5-mile oval saw close times across the field, with several drivers posting nearly identical speeds. Some well-known names will start further back than expected, while others gained a helpful advantage. From the front row to the final spot, each position could play a key role in how the race unfolds on Sunday.
Carson Hocevar Shocks the Field with First Career Pole at Texas
Carson Hocevar has made a powerful statement. On Saturday, he secured the first pole position of his NASCAR Cup Series career at Texas Motor Speedway. Piloting the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Hocevar clocked the second-fastest Gen 7 qualifying lap ever, sending a message to the entire garage. With William Byron, Austin Cindric, and Kyle Larson nearby on the grid, Sunday’s Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY could deliver more surprises. But how did the rest of the field shake out—and who impressed most?
Carson Hocevar Earns His Moment with Texas-Sized Confidence
Carson Hocevar’s breakout pole lap of 28.175 seconds at an average of 191.659 mph was a milestone not just for him, but also for Spire Motorsports. Dressed in a Chili’s-sponsored cowboy-themed firesuit and black 10-gallon hat, Hocevar looked every bit the Texas showman. And he backed it up on track, becoming the youngest driver ever to win the pole at Texas in the Cup Series.
Even more impressive? His lap nearly topped all others since the Gen 7 car debuted—only Christopher Bell’s 2023 run at Michigan was faster. Despite admitting he didn’t feel he “nailed the lap,” Hocevar knew he had a fast car based on practice results, where he also led the charts with a lap of 190.894 mph.
“It means a lot,” Hocevar said. “I finally get the No. 1 pit stall, which is huge. We’ve had our share of pit road problems, so this is a big advantage.”
His teammate Michael McDowell also showed speed, qualifying fifth. Together, the Spire cars turned heads heading into Sunday.
Top Qualifiers Poised to Pounce in the Würth 400
William Byron, the 2023 Texas winner, was just 0.014 seconds off Hocevar’s pace, showing strong form in the No. 24 Chevrolet. Austin Cindric, fresh off his Talladega win, slotted in third and was left feeling he had more to give.
“I left a pole lap out there,” Cindric admitted. “But we’ve got a great shot tomorrow.”
Kyle Larson, the last driver to attempt a lap, qualified fourth, while Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry, and Denny Hamlin filled out the next group of contenders. Bubba Wallace and AJ Allmendinger completed the top ten.
Larson and Gibbs both showed long-run potential in practice, while Cindric paced the field in 10-, 15-, 20-, and 25-lap averages. That consistency could play a key role in race strategy, especially at a fast, wide Texas layout where track position and pit stops matter.
Interestingly, Chase Elliott, the defending race winner, struggled in qualifying and will start a disappointing 29th. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, both playoff threats, are buried mid-pack in 26th and 27th, respectively.
Practice Runs Offer Clues to Race-Day Pace
Saturday’s two 25-minute practice sessions were clean, with the only hiccup being Shane van Gisbergen scraping the wall lightly in Group 1. Still, the speed charts revealed plenty.
Carson Hocevar led the way again in Group 2, while AJ Allmendinger paced Group 1. Rounding out the practice top five were Noah Gragson, Kyle Larson, and Michael McDowell—all drivers who could play spoiler roles despite not leading headlines.
| No. | Car | Driver |
| 1 | 77 | Carson Hocevar |
| 2 | 24 | William Byron |
| 3 | 2 | Austin Cindric |
| 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
| 5 | 71 |
Michael McDowell
|
| 6 | 54 | Ty Gibbs |
| 7 | 21 | Josh Berry |
| 8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace |
| 10 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger |
| 11 | 48 | Alex Bowman |
| 12 | 17 | Chris Buescher |
| 13 | 38 | Zane Smith |
| 14 | 43 | Erik Jones |
| 15 | 7 | Justin Haley |
| 16 | 20 | Christopher Bell |
| 17 | 45 | Tyler Reddick |
| 18 | 4 | Noah Gragson |
| 19 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 20 | 41 | Cole Custer |
| 21 | 35 | Riley Herbst |
| 22 | 19 | Chase Briscoe |
| 23 | 10 | Ty Dillon |
| 24 | 12 | Ryan Blaney |
| 25 | 99 | Daniel Suarez |
| 26 | 8 | Kyle Busch |
| 27 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| 28 | 42 | |
| 29 | 9 | Chase Elliott |
| 30 | 6 | Brad Keselowski |
| 31 | 1 | Ross Chastain |
| 32 | 34 | Todd Gilliland |
| 33 | 60 | Ryan Preece |
| 34 | 47 | |
| 35 | 62 | Jesse Love |
| 36 | 51 | Cody Ware |
| 37 | 88 |
Shane Van Gisbergen
|
| 38 | 66 | Chad Finchum |
Other names showing top-10 pace in practice included Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick, Erik Jones, and Austin Dillon. These results suggest a wide-open battle once the green flag drops.
As for the back of the field, Jesse Love, Cody Ware, Shane van Gisbergen, and Chad Finchum start 35th through 38th. They’ll face a major uphill climb through traffic on a track where speed and clean air rule.
News in Brief: Complete 2025 Würth 400 Starting Lineup
Carson Hocevar stunned the garage with his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series pole, beating William Byron by mere thousandths. While Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, and Ty Gibbs looked sharp in both practice and qualifying, it’s Hocevar who will enjoy the clean air first. A strong run from Spire Motorsports, paired with track position, gives him a real shot. But with long-run threats lurking and veterans like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch lurking mid-pack, the Würth 400 has all the makings of a Texas showdown. Tune in at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and follow every lap of the Würth 400.
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