A Pole Position Twist
Denny Hamlin claimed the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series event at Chicagoland Speedway, posting a blistering lap of 30.296 seconds that left his rivals scrambling to match the pace.
Kyle Larson, who had been on course for a faster run, could only manage a 30.297‑second effort and will now serve penalties after his car failed inspection on two separate occasions, a setback that could affect his bid to snap a 42‑race winless streak.
The performance marks Hamlin’s third consecutive pole on an oval and his 52nd career pole, tying him for ninth on the all‑time list, while also giving him a one‑point edge over Tyler Reddick in the championship standings.
Adding a personal note, Hamlin co‑owns 23XI Racing alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan, a partnership that has brought extra attention to the team as the season progresses.
The top five qualifying order also featured RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski, marking their first joint appearance in the top five since Darlington in May 2024, while Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe rounded out the lineup.
Rookie Connor Zilisch impressed as the fastest new entrant, securing 21st spot on the grid.