Denny Hamlin, seen here from an earlier race weekend, scored the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race on the Chicago Street Course. Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
On his final attempt late in Saturday’s final round of time trials, Denny Hamlin knocked three-time Australian SuperCars champion Shane Van Gisbergen off the provisional pole for the first-ever street course race in NASCAR Cup Series history.
Speeding around the 2.2-mile, 12-turn Chicago Street Course in 88.435 seconds (89.557 mph) in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Hamlin earned the right to lead the field to the green flag in Sunday’s Grant Park 220.
“It’s a lot of fun when you can have days like today,” said Hamlin, who claimed his third Busch Light Pole Award of the season and the 39th of his career. “Obviously, our Yahoo Camry is just super-strong. I like where we’re at.”
Running behind Hamlin on his final attempt, Tyler Reddick, who drives for Hamlin and former NBA superstar Michael Jordan at 23XI Racing, earned the second starting spot at 89.513 mph (88.479 seconds).
Van Gisbergen qualified third at 89.305 mph, followed by Christopher Bell (88.765 mph) and Daniel Suarez (88.668 mph).
For a race where track position is certain to be a major issue, Michael McDowell will start sixth, followed by Kyle Larson, former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button, Joey Logano and A.J. Allmendinger.
Van Gisbergen survived a pressure situation just to make the final round. Like a pole vaulter who passes until the height reaches 18 feet, he didn’t start his first-round lap until fewer than six minutes remained in the session.
As Van Gisbergen started his first attempt, Chase Elliott stayed close behind the New Zealander, maintaining a strong pace of his own until the entry to the Carousel (turns 8 and 9). Elliott missed the corner and slammed nose-first into one of the 10,000-pound concrete barriers where the course transitions from the southbound lane of Michigan Ave.
“I just made a mistake,” Elliott said. “Turned in too soon, clipped the will on the right and then hit the wall on the left.”
NASCAR red-flagged the session with 3 minutes 33 seconds left, nullifying Van Gisbergen’s lap. But the Kiwi had time to run another lap and was second to Hamlin in the Group B session of Round 1.
Elliott will have to start from the rear of the field, where he’ll be joined by Kevin Harvick, who crashed in turn 1, knocking two barriers out of position, as time expired in the round.
“We were going to be back there anyway,” said Harvick, who was slow in both practice and qualifying.
NASCAR Cup Series
Chicago Steet Course – Chicago, IL
Grant Park 220 – July 1, 2023
Saturday’s Qualifying Results
Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
1. 11 Denny Hamlin Yahoo! Toyota 88.435 89.557
2. 45 Tyler Reddick Monster Energy Toyota 88.479 89.513
3. 91 Shane Van Gisbergen Enhance Health Chevrolet 88.588 89.403
4. 20 Christopher Bell CRAFTSMAN Racing For A Miracle Toyota 89.224 88.765
5. 99 Daniel Suarez Worldwide Express Chevrolet 89.322 88.668
6. 34 Michael McDowell Chicago Pneumatic Compressors Ford 89.328 88.662
7. 5 Kyle Larson HendrickCars.com Chevrolet 89.512 88.480
8. 15 Jenson Button Mobil 1 Ford 89.571 88.421
9. 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 90.219 87.786
10. 16 A.J. Allmendinger Bath Plant by BCI Acrylics Chevrolet 90.283 87.724
11. 19 Martin Truex, Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota 89.404 88.587
12. 54 Ty Gibbs # Interstate Batteries Toyota 89.613 88.380
13. 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet 89.617 88.376
14. 23 Bubba Wallace McDonald’s Toyota 89.667 88.327
15. 17 Chris Buescher Fastenal Ford 89.687 88.307
16. 14 Chase Briscoe Mahindra Tractors Ford 89.687 88.307
17. 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Dutch Boy Ford 89.756 88.239
18. 8 Kyle Busch 3CHI Chevrolet 89.805 88.191
19. 7 Corey LaJoie Celsius Chevrolet 89.859 88.138
20. 6 Brad Keselowski Elk Grove Village Ford 89.878 88.119
21. 43 Erik Jones DRAIVER Chevrolet 90.046 87.955
22. 24 William Byron Valvoline Chevrolet 90.169 87.835
23. 42 Noah Gragson # Wendy’s Chevrolet 90.225 87.781
24. 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 90.232 87.774
25. 38 Todd Gilliland gener8tor Skills Ford 90.235 87.771
26. 9 Chase Elliott Hooters Chevrolet 90.283 87.724
27. 78 Josh Bilicki(i) Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet 90.331 87.678
28. 41 Ryan Preece Operating Engineers Ford 90.408 87.603
29. 3 Austin Dillon Get Bioethanol Chevrolet 90.521 87.494
30. 51 Andy Lally Camping World Ford 90.575 87.441
31. 2 Austin Cindric Discount Tire Ford 90.718 87.304
32. 21 Harrison Burton Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford 90.759 87.264
33. 77 Ty Dillon Chicago White Sox Chevrolet 90.799 87.226
34. 1 Ross Chastain AdventHealth Chevrolet 90.856 87.171
35. 4 Kevin Harvick GEARWRENCH Ford 90.980 87.052
36. 47 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Mariano’s/SunnyD Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series
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