By Lonnie Hugh Skinner
Michael McDowell has always qualified well during his time in the NASCAR Cup Series.
He did well again on Saturday, so well that he is on the Pole for today’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Turning a lap at 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 28.883 seconds (186.961 mph) in Saturday’s time trials, McDowell claimed the top starting spot. This is his first Busch Light Pole Award at Las Vegas, his first of the 2025 season, the seventh of his Cup Series career and Spire Motorsports first Cup Series pole in team history.
The 28.883-second circuit was the fastest qualifying lap at Las Vegas since the 2018 Fall race.
Last year, he drove for Front Row Motorsports.
McDowell beat Joey Logano (186.864 mph) for the pole by 0.015 seconds.
Austin Cindric qualified third at 186.793 mph, followed by Kyle Busch (186.638 mph) and Erik Jones (186.632 mph).
Positions sixth through tenth include, Alex Bowman, Josh Berry, William Byron, Zane Smith and Kyle Larson.
The top 10 at Las Vegas:
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
COMPILED FROM NASCAR, RACE, TV, SOCIAL MEDIA AND STAFF REPORTS
