Qualifying Sets the Stage for Richmond Night
Qualifying for the Richmond Raceway event delivered a flurry of fast laps, but it was Ryan Blaney who ultimately claimed the top spot. The No. 12 Ford driver posted a lap of 22.225 seconds, edging out his rivals and securing pole position for the evening’s race.
Sharing the front row with Blaney, Chase Briscoe delivered a strong performance in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, finishing just 0.050 seconds behind. Both drivers highlighted the improving track conditions and the excitement of starting at the front under the stadium lights.
Top Ten Lineup Emerges
The rest of the top ten saw a mix of rising talent and veteran presence. Josh Berry claimed third, followed by Ty Gibbs in fourth and William Byron in fifth. Behind them, Ryan Preece, Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano rounded out the leading pack.
Qualifying moments included an early benchmark from Keselowski at 22.491 seconds, later eclipsed by Preece’s 22.435-second effort. Briscoe had taken provisional pole with a 22.281-second lap, only to be surpassed by Blaney’s final 22.275-second run that locked in the pole.
The race itself will take place under the lights at Richmond Raceway, a venue known for its tight turns and high‑energy atmosphere. Blaney expressed enthusiasm for the event, noting the unique challenges of the short track and the opportunity to start the race from the advantageous pole position.