Denny Hamlin captured the pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway, heading into Sunday’s race with a strong qualifying performance, while three-time champion Joey Logano struggled and will start 13th. The qualifying session sets the tone for an intense playoff battle, as several top drivers remain on the edge of advancing in the postseason.
Hamlin’s Pole-Winning Run and Logano’s Qualifying Woes
Joey Logano monitored Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session closely at Gateway, a venue where he has consistently run near the front. Despite achieving the highest average finish (third place) in the last three races at this 1.25-mile flat oval, Logano had yet to secure a pole position here. Before attempting his qualifying lap, Logano addressed his previous difficulties, saying,
“I haven’t had a clean lap anytime I’ve qualified here.”
—Joey Logano, three-time circuit champion. Unfortunately, the scenario remained unchanged for Logano, who completed his hot lap in 32.719 seconds, lining up his No. 22 Ford in 13th position for Sunday’s main event.
Up front, Denny Hamlin powered to the pole position after recording a fast lap at 139.190 mph, clinching his second consecutive front-row playoff start at Gateway. Despite leading the field, Hamlin expressed a measured view of his performance, stating,
“I thought I could do a little better for the team,”
and adding,
“We got great track position. We just have to maintain it (Sunday).”
—Denny Hamlin, driver, No. 11 Toyota. Hamlin heads into the race after finishing as runner-up at Gateway in each of the previous two years.
The competition will be fierce, and Logano, the only driver with top ten finishes in the last three Cup races at Gateway, would have benefited from a better starting spot as he pursues advancement in the playoffs. Logano enters the event just below the postseason cut line, intensifying the pressure to perform on race day.
Playoff Pressure Builds: Drivers Facing Elimination
With the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 acting as the second of three events in the Round of 16, the stakes are high for drivers lingering near the playoff cutoff. Chase Briscoe already punched his ticket to the next round with last week’s dominant win at Darlington Raceway, but several drivers remain at risk without strong Gateway results.
Among those, Alex Bowman from Hendrick Motorsports is 19 points behind the cutoff and searching for improvement, having placed outside the top 25 in his last two trips to the track. Josh Berry, steering the No. 21 Ford, equally needs a clean start, as he stands 19 points shy of the playoff spot. Defending champion Joey Logano is just three points below the threshold but brings optimism from his prior Gateway successes, including a victory in 2022 and three consecutive top-five finishes. The anticipation from fans and insiders remains high that Logano could deliver under pressure.
“He knows a thing or two about winning in big moments. 😏
Another @WWTRaceway performance like this one could spark @joeylogano’s title defense. pic.twitter.com/QialHcpqEC”
—NASCAR (@NASCAR).
Full Starting Lineup: Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway
The official lineup features a mix of veterans and emerging drivers, each seeking critical playoff points and a strong finish:
1. Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Toyota)
2. Kyle Larson (No. 5 Chevrolet)
3. Chase Briscoe (No. 19 Toyota)
4. Ross Chastain (No. 1 Chevrolet)
5. Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Ford)
6. William Blaney (No. 24 Chevrolet)
7. Tyler Reddick (No. 45 Toyota)
8. Christopher Bell (No. 20 Toyota)
9. Austin Cindric (No. 2 Ford)
10. Zane Smith (No. 38 Ford)
11. Chris Buescher (No. 17 Ford)
12. Josh Berry (No. 21 Ford)
13. Joey Logano (No. 22 Ford)
14. Bubba Wallace (No. 23 Toyota)
15. Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet)
16. Erik Jones (No. 43 Toyota)
17. AJ Allmendinger (No. 16 Chevrolet)
18. Shane van Gisbergen (No. 88 Chevrolet)
19. Chase Elliott (No. 9 Chevrolet)
20. John Hunter Nemechek (No. 42 Toyota)
21. Ty Gibbs (No. 54 Toyota)
22. Kyle Busch (No. 8 Chevrolet)
23. Brad Keselowski (No. 6 Ford)
24. Noah Gragson (No. 4 Ford)
25. Alex Bowman (No. 48 Chevrolet)
26. Daniel Suarez (No. 99 Chevrolet)
27. Carson Hocevar (No. 77 Chevrolet)
28. Michael McDowell (No. 71 Chevrolet)
29. Cole Custer (No. 41 Ford)
30. Todd Gilliland (No. 34 Ford)
31. Justin Haley (No. 7 Chevrolet)
32. Ryan Preece (No. 60 Ford)
33. Riley Herbst (No. 35 Toyota)
34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 47 Chevrolet)
35. Ty Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet)
36. Cody Ware (No. 51 Ford)
This diverse lineup includes key contenders like Ross Chastain, William Blaney, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, and Tyler Reddick, each representing Chevrolet, Toyota, or Ford teams and bringing a mix of ambitions to the Gateway race. Michael McDowell and Brad Keselowski are also among the field, aiming to capitalize on any opportunity that may arise during the high-stakes event.
As the green flag nears, anticipation builds around which drivers will secure their place in the playoffs and who will face elimination after the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. With Denny Hamlin starting from the pole and several big names fighting to stay in contention, the intensity promises a thrilling showdown on Sunday for both teams and fans alike.
