In a highly competitive qualifying session on Saturday morning at Michigan International Speedway, Kyle Busch narrowly missed out on pole position for the upcoming FireKeepers Casino 400, with Chase Briscoe securing the fastest lap and his third straight pole. The intense session placed the focus firmly on Kyle Busch narrowly misses Michigan pole position qualifying as Briscoe, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, edged out his rivals by fractions of a second.
Briscoe Continues Pole Position Streak
Chase Briscoe set the pace with an impressive 36.826-second lap around Michigan’s two-mile oval, marking his third consecutive pole after recent top performances at Nashville and Charlotte. This strong form makes Briscoe one of the standout qualifiers of the current NASCAR Cup Series season. Briscoe’s margin over Busch was a mere 0.027 seconds, underlining the close competition at the top.
The session saw Joe Gibbs Racing’s strength on display as Denny Hamlin, Briscoe’s teammate, secured third in qualifying and continues to balance racing commitments with personal matters, as he remains on alert for the imminent arrival of his child. William Byron and Kyle Larson, teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, completed the top five, both demonstrating the depth of Hendrick’s qualifying performance.
Challenges and Surprises in the Lineup
Christopher Bell, also representing Joe Gibbs Racing, appeared poised to join his teammates up front but a minor error during his run meant he would start a disappointing 25th. Bell was expected to be in the mix given his strong track record on similar circuits.
Elsewhere, the qualifying session highlighted the speed and adaptability of teams such as RFK Racing, as Chris Buescher secured sixth, and Wood Brothers Racing with Josh Berry in seventh. Ty Gibbs, another Joe Gibbs Racing entrant, managed eighth, while the rest of the top ten included consistent performers like Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing and Zane Smith of Front Row Motorsports. The spread of teams in the top positions revealed a balanced field heading into Sunday’s race.
Full Starting Grid for the FireKeepers Casino 400
Here is the complete starting lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, reflecting each driver’s best time and the close gaps that defined the session:
1. Chase Briscoe (#19, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – 36.826 seconds
2. Kyle Busch (#8, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) – +0.027
3. Denny Hamlin (#11, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – +0.035
4. William Byron (#24, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – +0.052
5. Kyle Larson (#5, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – +0.063
6. Chris Buescher (#17, RFK Racing Ford) – +0.082
7. Josh Berry (#21, Wood Brothers Racing Ford) – +0.094
8. Ty Gibbs (#54, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – +0.101
9. Bubba Wallace (#23, 23XI Racing Toyota) – +0.111
10. Zane Smith (#38, Front Row Motorsports Ford) – +0.111
11. Austin Cindric (#2, Team Penske Ford) – +0.112
12. Tyler Reddick (#45, 23XI Racing Toyota) – +0.128
13. Ryan Blaney (#12, Team Penske Ford) – +0.135
14. Carson Hocevar (#77, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) – +0.147
15. Joey Logano (#22, Team Penske Ford) – +0.149
16. Alex Bowman (#48, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – +0.151
17. Chase Elliott (#9, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – +0.171
18. Ty Dillon (#10, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) – +0.174
19. AJ Allmendinger (#16, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) – +0.187
20. Ross Chastain (#1, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) – +0.205
21. John Hunter Nemechek (#42, Legacy Motor Club Toyota) – +0.205
22. Erik Jones (#43, Legacy Motor Club Toyota) – +0.208
23. Ryan Preece (#60, RFK Racing Ford) – +0.226
24. Cole Custer (#41, Haas Factory Team Ford) – +0.226
25. Christopher Bell (#20, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – +0.235
26. Shane van Gisbergen (#88, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) – +0.249
27. Brad Keselowski (#6, RFK Racing Ford) – +0.255
28. Austin Dillon (#3, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) – +0.298
29. Noah Gragson (#4, Front Row Motorsports Ford) – +0.299
30. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (#47, HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet) – +0.311
31. Justin Haley (#7, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) – +0.323
32. Michael McDowell (#71, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) – +0.325
33. Todd Gilliland (#34, Front Row Motorsports Ford) – +0.334
34. Riley Herbst (#35, 23XI Racing Toyota) – +0.357
35. Daniel Suarez (#99, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) – +0.404
36. Cody Ware (#51, Rick Ware Racing Ford) – +0.580
Looking Ahead to Race Day
With the lineup now set, fans will be watching to see if Briscoe can convert his third straight pole into a win, or if experienced contenders like Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin can use their positions near the front to their advantage. Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron and Kyle Larson may also be poised to challenge for the victory, given their consistent speed and skill.
As the FireKeepers Casino 400 approaches, the close qualifying times and the strong representation from teams such as Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and 23XI Racing suggest an unpredictable and closely fought race awaits at Michigan International Speedway.
