For the third time this season, Michael McDowell will lead the NASCAR Cup Series field to the green flag after winning the pole for Sunday’s event at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois.
McDowell had a fastest speed of 138.598 mph, ahead of Team Penske’s Austin Cindric by 0.109 seconds.
“I had a bit of a moment there in turn three and got a little loose and had to catch it but luckily I was able to recover quickly and get back in the throttle,” McDowell explained. “I am so proud of everybody at Front Row Motorsports. I know this is our third pole of the year, but to do it at a short track, a flat track, not a superspeedway, I am really proud of everybody.
“We have Siteman Cancer Center on the car this weekend, the first time for them. I am excited to start from the pole tomorrow. I am really proud of everybody. It is a team effort here.”
It was an all-Ford top three with defending Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney snagging the third spot.
“It is a good day for Ford taking the top three spots,” Blaney said. “We had a lot of speed in those Mustangs today. I was happy with the speed in our car throughout the day and in qualifying. It is a pretty good day. I wish we would have been closer to the pole, but overall a very solid day and I feel good about being able to put together a good day tomorrow as well.”
A trio of Toyotas followed suit with Coca-Cola 600 winner Christopher Bell in fourth, Tyler Reddick in fifth and Denny Hamlin qualified in sixth.
Brad Keselowski starts seventh, followed by Bubba Wallace and and Ty Gibbs. Kyle Busch was the lone Chevrolet in the top 10 after qualifying 10th. Busch is the defending race winner at Gateway.