Chase Briscoe Grabs the Pole After Chaotic Day of Practice and Qualifying at Kansas

Column By: Stephen Durham / RPW – KANSAS CITY, KS – It was a tale of two tapes at Kansas Speedway, with the first NASCAR Cup Series group for practice having no issues during their run. That would be different for the second group of practice, involving the NASCAR Cup Series round of 12 playoff drivers. Chase Briscoe though would grab the pole over Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin.

The second group of practice featured two cautions, halting practice for a few moments due to separate issues for Penske Racing teammates Joey Logano, and last weeks winner at New Hampshire, Joey Logano.

The first issue was for Ryan Blaney, as it appeared he cut down a tire in the middle of turns 1 & 2, causing him to hit the wall in the 2nd group of practice. That would end his practice early, and likely send the team to a back-up car.

Later in that practice, issues for Joey Logano, as a tire would go down, but would be able to avoid hitting the wall, but did come to a stop on the track. Logano would qualify poorly in his run.

NASCAR Cup Series drivers that come into Kansas below the cut-line are , Ross Chastain(-12), Austin Cindric(-19), Tyler Reddick(-23), and Bubba Wallace(-27).

Chastain comes into Kansas 12 points back from Chase Briscoe. Chastain will start 9th on Sunday for the Hollywood Casino 400.

Cindric comes into the weekend 19 points behind Briscoe, and had a rough day like his teammates with qualifying. He will start from 26th.

For Tyler Reddick, he will look to rebound on Sunday from last weekend at New Hampshire. He will roll from 12th place on Sunday.

Bubba Wallace currently is last of the 12 playoff drivers, 27 points back from Briscoe in 8th. Wallace will start 7th at Kansas Speedway.

The NASCAR Cup Series takes the green flag Sunday at 3PM Sunday, watch it live on USA or listen to it on MRN Radio.

FULL STARTING GRID FOR THE HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400:

1. Chase Briscoe*
2. Denny Hamlin*
3. Kyle Larson*
4. Chase Elliott*
5. Christopher Bell*
6. Carson Hocevar
7. Bubba Wallace*
8. Ty Gibbs
9. Ross Chastain*
10. Erik Jones
11. William Byron*
12. Tyler Reddick*
13. Josh Berry
14. Noah Gragson
15. Chris Buescher
16. Austin Dillon
17. Alex Bowman
18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
19. Ryan Preece
20. AJ Allmendinger
21. Michael McDowell
22. Justin Hayley
23. Todd Gilliland
24. Shane Van Gisbergen
25. John H. Nemechek
26. Austin Cindric*
27. Cole Custer
28. Zane Smith
29. Kyle Busch
30. Daniel Suarez
31. Brad Keslowski
32. Riley Herbst
33. Ty Dillon
34. Cody Ware
35. Joey Logano*
36. JJ Yeley
37. Ryan Blaney*(Did not make a lap)