Ryan Blaney claimed the pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series event at EchoPark Speedway, posting a blistering lap of 30.815 seconds that left the rest of the field scrambling to keep up.
A Turbulent Qualifying Session
His teammate Joey Logano will line up alongside him on the front row, giving Penske a rare one‑two start that underscores the team’s strong qualifying pace.
The session was far from straightforward. Swirling winds and oppressive heat turned the track into a moving target, and the only incident saw Chad Finchum spin out in the No. 66 car early, bringing a brief caution that disrupted the rhythm for several drivers.
Penske’s dominance extended beyond the front row, with all three of its entries occupying the top three spots in the opening round, a testament to the team’s preparation despite the lack of prior practice on the venue.
While the American manufacturers fought for grip, no Toyota managed to break into the final round, choosing instead to focus on race‑setup, a decision that left the Japanese brand absent from the championship‑contending lineup.
The final round saw a reshuffling of positions as Kyle Larson, who had been a threat early on, slipped to third, allowing Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez to round out the top five, while Blaney and Logano held firm at the front.