Ryan Blaney and Team Penske have captured ANOTHER pole position, this time at 0.75-mile Richmond Raceway, ahead of Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400. The good news? He didn’t have to put it in the barriers this time.
With qualifying canceled in Atlanta, the 28-year-old has captured three consecutive pole positions in the NASCAR Cup Series, the first driver to accomplish said feat since Kyle Busch did in the Summer of 2017.
Blaney’s 22.541-second (119.782mph) lap time in the second round of qualifying was good enough to narrowly beat William Byron, who will start alongside the High Point, North Carolina native in Sunday’s 400-lap contest.
Kyle Busch will start in third, with Phoenix winner Chase Briscoe and Erik Jones rounding out the top five. Martin Truex Jr, Kevin Harvick, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Aric Almirola rounded out the top-10.
After failing technical inspection three times on Friday, Justin Haley and Greg Biffle were unable to post a time in Saturday’s qualifying session, and must serve a pass-through on the opening lap of Sunday’s race.
With less than 40 cars entered for Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway, all cars will get the opportunity to take the green flag.