Ryan Blaney stormed to the top of the time sheets at Richmond Raceway, securing his second consecutive NASCAR pole position and the 16th of his Cup Series career.
Pole Position at Richmond
The 22.225‑second lap, posted at an average of 121.485 mph, was made possible by a brief cloud cover that softened the track surface during qualifying.
The achievement places Blaney level with veteran Denny Hamlin at the summit of the 2026 points standings, a rivalry that has already yielded four poles in a single season for the 30‑year‑old.
Blaney, who has been working closely with crew chief Jonathan Hassler, says the partnership has finally clicked after years of searching for one‑lap speed, a breakthrough that could prove decisive when the race unfolds.
The tire‑wear factor
The Richmond event is notorious for rapid tire degradation, a factor that can erase the advantage gained in qualifying and force drivers to adapt on the fly.
Behind Blaney, Chase Briscoe will line up second, with Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs and William Byron rounding out the top five, while Hamlin, a five‑time Richmond winner, will start from 14th.
Tyler Reddick, who spun in practice and qualified 32nd, will look to rebound from a weekend that began with a spin and a disappointing start.
Looking ahead
Despite the challenges ahead, Blaney remains cautiously optimistic, pointing to strong long‑run pace in practice as a sign that his car can translate qualifying speed into race‑winning performance.