NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying Report: Van Gisbergen Secures Pole Position at Trackhouse Racing
Shane van Gisbergen achieved pole position at the latest NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session, posting a time of 1:32.776 in the No. 88 Chevrolet. This marks van Gisbergen’s second career pole and his first of the 2025 season, crucial for a driver currently ranked 33rd in the championship standings.
Joining him in the front row is Ryan Preece from RFK Racing, who finished just 0.064 seconds behind. Preece, still seeking his first Cup Series win, narrowly prevented a Trackhouse front-row lockout.
Reflecting on his performance, van Gisbergen stated, “We made some big swings last night… I had a lot more front grip, which is what I needed,” adding that he is eager for the race, deeming it “a really cool achievement for us.”
Ross Chastain qualified third, marking his best effort of the year, while Ty Gibbs and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five. Larson, Gilliland, Allmendinger, Logano, and Suarez completed the top ten, showing a strong competitive field.
The qualifying session, lasting 45 minutes, adopted a practice-style format, allowing ample track time. However, it was marred by a light rain that led to an early red flag, preventing further runs.
Notable performances included Chase Briscoe, who qualified 19th, ending his streak of three consecutive poles. Defending winner Christopher Bell, surprisingly, could only manage 31st position. Ryan Truex, making his first Cup start in nearly 11 years, qualified 36th.
As teams prepare for the race, van Gisbergen’s performance positions him as a potential dark horse, poised to shake up the playoff landscape.
