On Saturday evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson falls short of Coca Cola 600 pole position after Chase Briscoe from Joe Gibbs Racing posted the fastest qualifying run, setting a notable tone ahead of Sunday’s iconic double-duty challenge involving the Indy 500 and NASCAR. Briscoe’s strong performance denied Larson from securing pole, with the Hendrick Motorsports driver missing the top spot by a narrow margin as he prepares for a memorable motorsports weekend.
Briscoe Secures Pole After Intense Qualifying Session
William Byron led for much of the session with a quick lap of 29.566 seconds in the No. 24 Chevrolet, but as the last group of contenders took to the track, Chase Briscoe delivered a 29.532-second lap in his No. 19 Toyota, overtaking Byron and putting himself in pole position. Despite a field full of accomplished drivers, it was Briscoe’s lap that stood out, putting Joe Gibbs Racing at the top heading into race day at Charlotte.
Among the remaining drivers, Kyle Larson presented the strongest challenge, nearly matching Briscoe’s pace in the No. 5 Chevrolet but ultimately coming up short by just 0.020 seconds. This near miss means Larson starts on the front row, a strong showing as he attempts the ambitious ‘double’—competing in both the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Coca Cola 600 on the same day.
Top Finishers and Full Starting Lineup Announced
William Byron finished third after being edged out in the final moments, while Chris Buescher and AJ Allmendinger completed the top five, underscoring the competitive field present at Charlotte. The remainder of the lineup showcases talent across various teams and manufacturers, including RFK Racing, Kaulig Racing, and Legacy Motor Club, with contenders like John Hunter Nemechek and Ty Gibbs also making the top ten.
Here is the starting grid for the 2025 Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway:
1. Chase Briscoe (No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – 29.532 seconds
2. Kyle Larson (No. 5, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) +0.020
3. William Byron (No. 24, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) +0.034
4. Chris Buescher (No. 17, RFK Racing Ford) +0.128
5. AJ Allmendinger (No. 16, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) +0.152
6. John Hunter Nemechek (No. 42, Legacy Motor Club Toyota) +0.193
7. Ty Gibbs (No. 54, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) +0.215
8. Noah Gragson (No. 4, Front Row Motorsports Ford) +0.277
9. Alex Bowman (No. 48, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) +0.282
10. Christopher Bell (No. 20, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) +0.283
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 47, HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet) +0.315
12. Tyler Reddick (No. 45, 23XI Racing Toyota) +0.318
13. Justin Haley (No. 7, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) +0.334
14. Austin Cindric (No. 2, Team Penske Ford) +0.339
15. Michael McDowell (No. 34, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) +0.365
16. Joey Logano (No. 22, Team Penske Ford) +0.384
17. Jimmie Johnson (No. 84, Legacy Motor Club Toyota) +0.394
18. Josh Berry (No. 21, Wood Brothers Racing Ford) +0.456
19. Ty Dillon (No. 10, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) +0.456
20. Denny Hamlin (No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) +0.498
21. Ryan Blaney (No. 12, Team Penske Ford) +0.497
22. Chase Elliott (No. 9, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) +0.505
23. Zane Smith (No. 38, Front Row Motorsports Ford) +0.507
24. Kyle Busch (No. 8, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) +0.511
25. Daniel Suarez (No. 99, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) +0.531
26. Austin Dillon (No. 3, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) +0.552
27. Erik Jones (No. 43, Legacy Motor Club Toyota) +0.568
28. Ryan Preece (No. 60, RFK Racing Ford) +0.582
29. Cole Custer (No. 41, Haas Factory Team Ford) +0.615
30. Shane van Gisbergen (No. 88, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) +0.629
31. Riley Herbst (No. 35, 23XI Racing Toyota) +0.690
32. Bubba Wallace (No. 23, 23XI Racing Toyota) +0.745
33. Connor Zilisch (No. 87, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) +0.772
34. Todd Gilliland (No. 34, Front Row Motorsports Ford) +0.782
35. Brad Keselowski (No. 6, RFK Racing Ford) +0.782
36. Cody Ware (No. 51, Rick Ware Racing Ford) +1.151
37. Derek Kraus (No. 44, NY Racing Team Chevrolet) +1.859
38. Josh Bilicki (No. 66, Garage 66 Ford) +2.729
39. Carson Hocevar (No. 77, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) +6.612
40. Ross Chastain (No. 1, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) – No Time
Expectations Ahead of the Double and Beyond
Kyle Larson’s front row start comes amidst heightened anticipation, as fans and teams turn their attention to his ambitious attempt at the day’s doubleheader—racing both at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. With competitors like Chase Briscoe, William Byron, and others looking to capitalize on their strong qualifying performances, the Coca Cola 600 promises tightly contested racing and strategic battles, particularly with the presence of powerhouse teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing.
The final grid highlights the blend of veterans, returning champions such as Jimmie Johnson, and emerging talents vying for success at one of NASCAR’s crown jewel races. As qualifying concludes, focus now shifts to race day strategy and execution, where fractions of a second may decide the outcome of this historic event. With names like Chris Buescher, AJ Allmendinger, and Ty Gibbs also in contention, the stage is set for an unpredictable and high-stakes showdown at Charlotte.
