Denny Hamlin secured the pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway with a blistering lap of 30.296 seconds, edging out his rival Kyle Larson, who posted a 30.297‑second effort in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
A Sunny But Strained Qualifier
The qualifying run unfolded under clear, sunny skies, a factor Hamlin said gave him the perfect grip on the 1.5‑mile oval. Larson, however, endured a turbulent afternoon when his car failed inspection twice, resulting in the ejection of crew chief Jesse Saunders and a loss of pit‑stall selection for his team.
Hamlin, a 2015 Chicagoland winner, is now chasing his fifth victory of the season and holds a one‑point lead over Tyler Reddick in the Cup Series standings. The pole also marks his third consecutive pole on an oval and his 52nd career pole, tying him with Ryan Newman for ninth on the all‑time list.
Adding a personal note, Hamlin co‑owns 23XI Racing alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan, a partnership that has brought extra attention to the team’s performance as the season progresses.
Top Five Lineup Shapes Up
The top five qualifiers also featured RFK Racing’s duo of Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski, who will start third and fourth respectively, marking the first time the organization has placed two cars in the top five since May 2024 at Darlington. Ty Gibbs rounded out the top five, completing a diverse field that includes rising talent Christopher Bell and rookie Connor Zilisch.