Michael McDowell Secures Second Pole of Season at Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Michael McDowell has clinched the pole position for Sunday’s Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. This marks his second pole of the season and the eighth of his career. McDowell achieved a remarkable lap speed of 182.466 mph during qualifying.
Top Qualifiers for the Race
Chase Briscoe secured the second spot with a lap time of 182.400 mph. He holds the crucial final transfer position to the championship race. The following drivers completed the top five qualifiers:
- Kyle Busch – 182.199 mph (3rd)
- Austin Cindric – 182.181 mph (4th)
- Ryan Preece – 182.116 mph (5th)
Playoff Drivers in the Top 10
This race at Talladega marks the Round of 8 in the NASCAR playoffs. Only three of the eight playoff drivers qualified in the top 10:
- Christopher Bell – 181.846 mph (7th)
- Ryan Blaney – 181.780 mph (8th)
Other Notable Playoff Positions
Several playoff contenders qualified beyond the top 10:
- William Byron – 13th
- Joey Logano – 16th
- Denny Hamlin – 17th
- Kyle Larson – 19th
- Chase Elliott – 25th
The race is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
