Kyle Larson secured the pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series street race in downtown Chicago, narrowly edging out Ty Gibbs by a mere one-hundredth of a second. Larson clocked a swift lap time of 87.836 seconds during the second round of qualifying on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course on Saturday, reaching a top speed of 90.168 mph. Following closely behind was Gibbs with a time of 87.846 seconds and a speed of 90.158 mph.
Currently leading the Cup Series driver standings, Larson is aiming for his fourth victory of the season in his 350th career Cup Series start. With five poles this year and a total of 21 in his career, Larson expressed satisfaction with his qualifying performances, emphasizing the importance of maintaining speed during races.
Michael McDowell secured the third qualifying spot with a speed of 90.141 mph, while Tyler Reddick followed in fourth place with a speed of 89.923 mph. Shane van Gisbergen, last year’s race winner, rounded out the top five with a speed of 89.813 mph.
McDowell acknowledged the tough competition ahead, expressing confidence in his fast car and the opportunity to contend for a win in the upcoming Grant Park 165 on Sunday. Larson, who also topped the charts in practice, is prepared for the challenge after finishing fourth in last year’s race.
In a bid to familiarize himself with the intricate course, Larson participated in the Xfinity Series on Saturday, noting the differences in handling between the two cars. Despite finding more rhythm in the Cup car due to its balanced handling, he acknowledged the Xfinity car’s lower grip levels, providing an additional challenge.
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