Hocevar Claims First Cup Series Pole at Texas Motor Speedway
Carson Hocevar achieved a career milestone by securing his first NASCAR Cup Series pole position at Texas Motor Speedway, clocking a lap at 191.659 mph (28.175 seconds). This marks a significant achievement in Hocevar’s 56 starts, making him the youngest driver to earn a pole at this track.
"Winning the pole is huge for this team, especially considering the challenges we’ve faced in the past," Hocevar stated. He emphasized the importance of his team’s consistent efforts and credited their hard work. Noting the support from new sponsor Chili’s and their vibrant branding, he expressed pride in finally achieving a number one pit stall after previous difficulties.
William Byron qualified in second place with a lap at 191.564 mph, followed closely by Austin Cindric at 191.523 mph, who stated his lap felt promising but noted areas for improvement. Kyle Larson and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five qualifiers, marking strong performances for each team.
The full qualifying results included:
- 6th: Ty Gibbs (191.293 mph)
- 7th: Josh Berry (191.266 mph)
- 8th: Denny Hamlin (191.164 mph)
- 9th: Bubba Wallace (191.157 mph)
- 10th: AJ Allmendinger (190.975 mph)
Defending Texas winner Chase Elliott qualified 29th, while notable names like Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski found themselves in the lower tier of the starting grid.
The race is set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET, where Hocevar will look to convert his pole position into a landmark victory.
