Chase Briscoe wins Brickyard 400 pole after clocking the fastest lap during a tense qualifying round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indiana native edged out Bubba Wallace by just 0.013 seconds in what became his fifth pole position of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, setting the stage for an emotionally charged weekend in front of his home crowd.
This marks a standout moment in Briscoe’s career, as he has now secured pole in three major crown jewel events this year—the Daytona 500, the Coca Cola 600, and now the prestigious Brickyard 400. He managed to top the efforts of Bubba Wallace from 23XI Racing and Erik Jones representing Legacy Motor Club. Tyler Reddick will start from the fourth spot, while Ty Gibbs, who remains in contention for the $1 million in-season challenge, rounds out the top five starters.
As the highest Chevrolet qualifier, William Byron claimed sixth place. Chris Buescher delivered Ford’s best time in seventh, followed by Carson Hocevar, A.J. Allmendinger, and Austin Cindric in the top ten. Rookie Shane van Gisbergen achieved his best performance yet on a Cup Series oval, qualifying in eleventh place.
Qualifying Pushes Drivers to Their Limits
The qualifying session pushed competitors, including kyle busch., john hunter nemechek, brad keselowski, michael mcdowell, and chase elliott, to the edge. The iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile layout proved unforgiving as multiple drivers brushed the walls or lost control. Turn 2 in particular caused trouble, with Chase Elliott nearly spinning, highlighting just how precarious and high risk each lap became.
Chase Briscoe reflected on the intensity of the session, expressing the emotional stakes of performing in front of a supportive Indiana audience.
“I was super close to doing that (wrecking), really in all four corners,”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
“That’s the closest I think I’ve ever gotten to Indy 500 qualifying, just being on the absolute ragged edge. I thought I was gonna lose it a couple times, but I was able to hold onto it. Super cool. I’m holding back tears, truthfully. This is such a special moment for me, and even hearing the crowd as I got the pole — it was just super cool. Hopefully, we can keep it up there tomorrow. That’s the one we want to win.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
Briscoe’s heartfelt comments highlighted the meaning of this pole position to both himself and the fans in attendance, capturing the intense and passionate atmosphere of the day.
Hamlin’s High-Speed Crash Dashes Pole Hopes
Denny Hamlin, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing after recently signing a new multi-year contract, was the last competitor to attempt a lap, aiming to claim the top spot. Blazing around the track in his No. 11 Toyota, Hamlin appeared to be on pace to dethrone Briscoe for the pole as he exited Turn 2 nearly three-tenths of a second ahead.
However, catastrophe struck when Hamlin’s car stepped out and collided violently with the outside barrier, before careening across the track into the inside wall with immense force. The incident left the front of Hamlin’s car destroyed, forcing him to settle for a disappointing 39th starting position for Sunday’s race. The Brickyard 400 remains the only major crown jewel event Hamlin has yet to win, compounding the heartbreak from what could have been a triumphant run.
Tight Field and Intense Emotions Foreshadow Sunday’s Main Event
A review of times reveals just how closely matched the field was, with fractions of a second separating the top qualifiers. Briscoe’s time of 49.136 seconds set the benchmark, with Wallace, Jones, Reddick, and others following in rapid succession. The atmosphere throughout the qualifying session was both passionate and intense, mirroring the stakes for drivers on the playoff bubble and those chasing career-first milestones at this storied track.
This qualifying performance carries significant weight for Chase Briscoe and his Indiana supporters, providing a source of local pride and national attention as he leads the field to the green flag at the historic Brickyard 400. Hamlin’s wreck, meanwhile, serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and danger inherent in motorsport, raising questions about how the championship-contending drivers will respond when the main event unfolds. As fans and teams reset for race day, all eyes remain on Briscoe, Wallace, Hamlin, and a tight group of racers seeking victory at one of NASCAR’s most pivotal venues.
