NASCAR Cup Series Pole Winner Sets Stage for Historic Championship Win
Avondale, Arizona – In a thrilling turn of events, William Byron, one of the Championship 4 drivers, claimed the pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. This achievement keeps alive the possibility of an extraordinary streak – in each of the last three title races at this one-mile track, the pole winner has gone on to win both the race and the championship.
Last year, Chase Elliott emerged victorious from the pole position, followed by Kyle Larson in 2021 and Joey Logano the year before that. As such, Byron’s pole position bodes well for his chances of securing the championship.
During Saturday’s time trials, Byron maneuvered his way around the irregular-shaped track in 27.150 seconds, reaching an impressive speed of 132.597 mph. This lap time secured him the top starting spot, beating Martin Truex Jr. by a mere 0.018 seconds. Truex Jr., who was eliminated from the Playoffs last Sunday, will start alongside Byron on the front row.
Kevin Harvick, in his final qualifying run as a full-time Cup Series driver, consolidated his strong outing by earning the third starting spot with a lap at 132.421 mph. Byron’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate and fellow Championship 4 contender, Kyle Larson, followed closely behind, qualifying fourth at 132.397 mph.
Byron expressed his excitement about the opportunity ahead, stating, My team is really going to like this. It’s going to be fun. All my family and friends are here, all my friends from high school. It’s going to be fun to hang out with them over tonight and just enjoy. This is a great opportunity. I want to be here every year. It’s really fun to be a part of, and we need to take advantage of it.
While Byron and Larson have the upper hand in terms of starting position, Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney, the other two Championship 4 drivers, faced disappointment after failing to advance to the final round of qualifying. Bell will start 13th, while Blaney will start 15th. Despite their lower starting positions, both drivers remain hopeful and determined to climb their way to the front.
When asked about the relative significance of qualifying speed, Larson remarked, I think we all saw the practice sheets yesterday… I’m not counting out Blaney or Bell at all. It’s a long race, so they’ll overcome wherever they start. I’m sure they’ll drive through the field. The final four guys, most everybody respects or shows a lot of respect to on the racetrack and gives a lot of space. I think they’ll find their way to the front pretty quickly.
With Bubba Wallace securing the fifth starting spot, followed by Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, Ross Chastain, Chris Buescher, and Tyler Reddick, the stage is set for an intense battle on Sunday. Reddick faced a minor setback when he spun and made contact with the turn 4 wall during his final qualifying run.
As fans eagerly anticipate the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway, it remains to be seen whether the streak of pole winners turned champions will continue. Will William Byron capitalize on his pole position to claim the championship, or will one of the other Championship 4 drivers defy the odds? Be prepared for a thrilling Sunday race that could make history once again.
