Shane van Gisbergen secured pole position for the inaugural NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado near San Diego, posting a lap time of 2 minutes and 14.788 seconds that outpaced Carson Hocevar.
A pole position with reservations
Despite the celebratory moment, the New Zealand driver voiced dissatisfaction with his performance, acknowledging that there is still room for improvement as the 75‑lap street event looms.
The qualifying session revealed a tough grid, with heavy tire wear expected to shape the race dynamics. Ryan Blaney will start third, Zane Smith fourth, while Denny Hamlin lines up 26th, hoping to capture his fourth straight victory.
Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson will begin further back, at 30th and 36th respectively, and no Toyota made the top ten, adding to the unpredictability.
Championship implications
Van Gisbergen, already a seven‑time winner on road and street courses, aims to claim his eighth Cup victory on such layouts, which would tie him with Chase Elliott for the most among active drivers.
The race also marks a milestone for Trackhouse Racing, whose involvement underscores the growing footprint of the team in American motorsport.
Fans can expect a chaotic battle over 75 laps, where strategy and tire management will be as crucial as raw speed.