There is no arguing that Team Penske has been stout when it comes to qualifying in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, a trend that continued at Darlington, with Joey Logano capturing the pole for Sunday’s Goodyear 400.
The 31-year-old posted the quickest time in the second round of qualifying on Saturday, putting down a time of 28.805 seconds (170.720mph) to capture his first pole of the season and the 23rd of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
With Logano’s qualifying triumph on Saturday, all three of Team Penske’s full-time drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have played a part in the organization’s series-high five poles in 2022.
Kyle Larson – who posted the fastest overall time in the session (R1, B) — will start on the front row with Logano for Sunday’s 400-mile event, with Christopher Bell, Martin Truex Jr, and Kyle Busch rounding out the top-five.
Also advancing to the second round of qualifying were Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick, who will start sixth through 10th.
Austin Cindric led the series’ only practice session of the weekend – for the second straight week — but failed to advance to the second round of qualifying, and will start Sunday’s race in 19th.
Chase Elliott – who has had a dismal weekend in all regards after rain forced him out of the NASCAR Xfinity Series event — found the outside wall fairly hard in Saturday’s practice, after cutting a tire entering turn three.
Kevin Harvick also had a similar tire issue but was able to avoid major damage to his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang. Neither driver posted times in qualifying and will start at the rear of the field.
