Ty Gibbs claimed pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series event at Sonoma Raceway, posting a blistering lap of 1:14.829 seconds.
A pole position decided by a whisper
The margin was razor‑thin, with Carson Hocevar finishing just 0.025 seconds behind, while Kyle Larson will line up third, Michael McDowell fourth and Ross Chastain fifth.
Shane van Gisbergen, the pre‑race favorite, could only manage sixth on the grid, a result that surprised many given his strong qualifying form.
The battle for position was incredibly tight, as the top six drivers were separated by less than a tenth of a second, underscoring the competitiveness of the field.
During the session, Bubba Wallace crashed into the wall, ending his run prematurely, while Cody Ware spun off into the barriers, adding to the chaos.
Chase Briscoe appeared to be on course for pole before a slip in the esses cost him valuable time, dropping him further down the order.
Ty Gibbs noted that the re‑runs at the track can be unpredictable, sometimes unlocking even faster laps when conditions shift.
Denny Hamlin managed to out‑qualify Tyler Reddick, a crucial result for the championship battle heading into Sunday's race.
Christopher Bell, nursing a fractured left wrist, will start 14th, showing resilience despite his injury.
With Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar sharing the front row, the stage is set for an intense showdown on Sunday, while teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Spire Motorsports prepare for the upcoming battle.