Joey Logano drives during practice for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Photo: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Joey Logano, winner of three of the last eight NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will start from the pole position in Sunday’s race after topping 186 mph Saturday in the final round of qualifying.
Logano toured the 1.5-mile track in 29.024 seconds (186.053 mph) to earn his first Busch Pole Award of the season, his second at Las Vegas and the 27th of his career.
Logano’s No. 22 Team Penske Ford was .141 seconds faster than William Byron (185.153 mph). Ryan Blaney, Logano’s teammate, qualified third at 184.900 mph, with Ty Gibbs (184.540 mph) earning a career-best fourth-place starting position.
“The car was wicked good,” said Logano, who won last year’s Playoff race at LVMS on the way to his second Cup Series championship. “The Pennzoil Mustang is fast. In practice it was pretty good, and in qualifying (crew chief) Paul (Wolfe) really gave me a heck of a piece here.
“I held it wide open — just being honest. I kept it pinned around there. It’s on the edge, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a really fast car they gave me today, and hopefully that speed translates over into the race.”
Byron likewise didn’t lift during his money lap.
“I felt good,” he said. “That was a wide-open lap there, so I’m not sure what I could have done different, maybe cut a little bit of the track off (turn) 4, and just let the car kind of wind out.
“I’m happy with the lap, though. Being second is good. Not pumped to be second for the fact of not getting the pole, but at least it’s a good starting spot. I’m excited for that.”
A dramatic shift in wind direction — to a tailwind down the backstretch — played havoc with the cars in Group B. Christopher Bell, who was fastest in the first round, was the most notable victim. He was 10th in the final round at 183.524 mph after running 185.065 mph in the opening round.
Kyle Busch, last Sunday’s winner at Auto Club Speedway, will start fifth beside Kyle Larson. Brad Keselowski and Ross Chastain claimed fourth row starting spots, followed by Austin Cindric and Bell, after all five Group B qualifiers were relegated to positions six through 10 after the wind changed directions.
Harrison Burton clobbered the turn 1 wall during practice and destroyed his primary car. As a result, he was unable to qualify and will start from the rear of the field in a backup car.
“I went sideways really quickly,” Burton said. “I looked at my dash, because I had water temp flash hot… looked down and then back up to go in the corner, and as soon as I turned in, it was really sideways…
“I felt like we had a decent car — fired off OK with a lot of grip. Then, all the sudden, there wasn’t. Pretty upset, I guess. I feel fine. It was definitely a hard hit. Anytime you get head-on with that speed, it doesn’t feel great. But I feel fine — just wish I could have that corner back. I don’t know what exactly caused it, but I wish I had a chance to avoid it. I guess that’s part of it.”
Because of an engine change in the No. 45 Toyota, Tyler Reddick was unable to practice or qualify and will join Burton at the rear of the field. So will B.J. McLeod, who opted not to practice or qualify.
In 30 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway only one driver has won from the pole — Kyle Busch in 2009.
NASCAR Cup Series
Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, NV
Pennzoil 400 – March 4, 2023
Saturday’s Qualifying Results
Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
1. 22 Joey Logano Pennzoil Ford 29.024 186.053
2. 24 William Byron RaptorTough.com Chevrolet 29.165 185.153
3. 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Pennzoil Ford 29.205 184.900
4. 54 Ty Gibbs # He Get us Toyota 29.262 184.540
5. 8 Kyle Busch Alsco Chevrolet 29.270 184.489
6. 5 Kyle Larson HendrickCars.com Chevrolet 29.308 184.250
7. 6 Brad Keselowski Fastenal Ford 29.333 184.093
8. 1 Ross Chastain GlobalTranz Chevrolet 29.387 183.755
9. 2 Austin Cindric Discount Tire Ford 29.401 183.667
10. 20 Christopher Bell SiriusXM Toyota 29.424 183.524
11. 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet 29.346 184.011
12. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota 29.367 183.880
13. 23 Bubba Wallace Columbia Sportwear Company Toyota 29.392 183.723
14. 4 Kevin Harvick Rheem Ford 29.411 183.605
15. 19 Martin Truex, Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota 29.467 183.256
16. 47 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Smith’s/Coca-Coal Zero Sugar Chevrolet 29.562 182.667
17. 34 Michael McDowell Quincy Compressor Ford 29.582 182.543
18. 17 Chris Buescher Nexletol Ford 29.593 182.476
19. 7 Corey LaJoie EnviroXstream Chevrolet 29.605 182.402
20. 14 Chase Briscoe Mahindra Tractors Ford 29.610 182.371
21. 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 29.611 182.365
22. 43 Erik Jones Allegiant Chevrolet 29.629 182.254
23. 16 A.J. Allmendinger Action Industries Chevrolet 29.635 182.217
24. 99 Daniel Suarez Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet 29.650 182.125
25. 42 Noah Gragson # Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet 29.789 181.275
26. 3 Austin Dillon BREZTRI Chevrolet 29.810 181.147
27. 31 Justin Haley LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet 29.823 181.068
28. 38 Todd Gilliland Ruedebusch Ford 29.892 180.650
29. 15 J.J. Yeley OTR Mobile Ford 29.986 180.084
30. 51 Cody Ware Biohaven/Jacob Co. Ford 29.994 180.036
31. 41 Ryan Preece HaasTooling.com Ford 30.034 179.796
32. 9 Josh Berry(i) NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 30.153 179.087
33. 77 Ty Dillon NationsGuard Chevrolet 30.686 175.976
34. 45 Tyler Reddick Monster Energy Toyota 0.000 0.000
35. 21 Harrison Burton Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford 0.000 0.000
36. 78 B.J. McLeod Circle B Diecast Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series
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