Ryan Blaney captured his third pole position in the last five outings at Richmond Raceway, a milestone that also marks his 16th career pole in the NASCAR Cup Series and his best qualifying tally of the 2026 season.
A Cooling Cloud Gives Blaney an Edge
A thin layer of cloud settled over the track during qualifying, lowering temperatures and increasing grip. The cooler conditions allowed Blaney to extract more speed from his car and secure the top spot on the grid.
Blaney credited the improvement to a series of adjustments made with his crew chief, Jonathan Hassler, who fine‑tuned the car’s aerodynamic package and tire pressures for the unique demands of Richmond’s short, steeply banked layout.
Behind him, Chase Briscoe will line up second, with Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs and William Byron rounding out the top five, while veteran Denny Hamlin, a five‑time Richmond winner, will start from 14th.
Despite the strong qualifying showing, Blaney remains wary of translating that speed into a race result, noting that Richmond’s notorious tire wear can dramatically shift handling after just a few laps.
Tyler Reddick, who spun in practice and will start 32nd, faces a steep climb, but the field is expected to be tightly contested as teams and drivers battle for position under the lights.