By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio
FORT WORTH _ Kyle Larson added another “first” to his NASCAR Cup Series resume at Texas Motor Speedway, where he qualified on-pole for Sunday’s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400.
Larson toured TMS’ high-banked/1.5-mile oval Saturday morning in 28.366-seconds at 190.369 mph in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 fielded by Hendrick Motorsports. Larson’s 19th pole in 340 Cup races was his third consecutive of the season and sixth top-10 start. Remarkably, it’s Larson’s first Busch Pole Award in 17 races at “The Great American Speedway.”
Larson’s lap pipped Ty Gibbs’ run of 28.401-seconds at 190.134 mph in the No. 54 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing. Gibbs secured his fifth top-10 start of 2024 and second in three Cup races at TMS.
“Yeah, it was a pretty intense qualifying session,” said Larson, the 2021 Cup champion who is paired with crew chief Cliff Daniels. “I felt like the track was really slick in practice, and then having to kind of talk to yourself before you make your lap, knowing that you have to commit even more than you did in practice to go fast is difficult.
“And then yeah, just the lap itself _ the first round and second round both _ there were moments where you have grip and then moments where you’re like, ‘Man, I’m going to crash!’ It’s pretty intense from behind the wheel, but always great when you can accomplish a pole and feel like you beat your confidence a little bit.”
The pole is Chevrolet’s 16th all-time in Cup at Texas Motor Speedway, and the manufacturer’s 747th all-time in NASCAR’s premier series _ both records. Larson’s lap also marked another milestone for Hendrick Motorsports, which delivered the Chevrolet organization its 250th all-time Cup pole during its 40th Anniversary season.
“Yeah, it’s pretty neat,” said Larson, 31, addressing HMS’ myriad accomplishments. “Whenever you can kind of be ‘the guy’ I guess _ to know that your name is going to be next to that milestone number _ it’s pretty special. You know, like when I was able to be a part of win 269, like you feel the excitement; the happiness from (team-owner) Rick Hendrick and everybody that’s been a part of the organization for a long time.
“And then, even being out there on the opposite side of things _ with William (Byron) winning 300 last year here at Texas _ I was obviously super-bummed because I was dominating the race and lost but at the same point I was really happy for the team. Even last week, I’m obviously bummed I didn’t win but super, super-happy for the team. Especially this year, being the 40th Anniversary season for Hendrick Motorsports, there’s these milestones that are all kind of coming up right now. It’s just cool to get the 250th Cup Series pole, and I feel like I’m contributing to the record books at Hendrick Motorsports.”
Starting on-pole also earned Larson his choice of pit stalls for Sunday’s event, scheduled for 267 laps/400.5-miles.
“Well, I think in the Next Gen stuff, qualifying is very important because of just track position and it being much harder to pass than it used to be,” Larson said. “As far as pit stalls and stuff, this is one of the easier pit roads, I feel like. It’s wide and the stalls are not too small so it’s not too bad, as long you as you don’t get stuck. Like say you qualified bad and you have to pick a stall in between two good cars and you’re also a good car…like Kyle Busch will probably have a rough day on pit road tomorrow.”
Busch, a two-time Cup champion, will start 35th after crashing his No. 8 zone Chevrolet fielded by Richard Childress Racing during the morning practice. Busch spun at the exit of Turn 2 and slammed the outside wall with the rear end. “These (expletive) cars suck,” a disgusted Busch said over his radio. The winner of Friday night’s Craftsman Truck Series race here, Busch will compete in his backup Camaro on Sunday.
JGR’s Christopher Bell, a native of Oklahoma City, will start third after lapping at 28.417-seconds and 190.027 mph in the No. 20 Rheem Toyota. Bell posted his second top-10 start at Texas Motor Speedway and fourth in nine races this season.
Bell will be joined in Row 2 by Tyler Reddick after his lap of 28.450-seconds and 189.807 mph in the No. 45 The Beast Unleashed Toyota fielded by 23XI Racing.
Reigning series champion Ryan Blaney will start seventh after lapping at 28.480-seconds and 189.607 mph in the No. 12 Menards/Knauf Insulation Ford Mustang fielded by Team Penske.
Former Prosper resident Chris Buescher qualified 19th in the 38-car field at 28.522-seconds and 189.328 mph in the No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford fielded by Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.
Carson Hocevar (16th) was the fastest qualifying rookie at 28.572-seconds and 188.996 mph in the No. 77 Premier Security Chevy fielded by Spire Motorsports.
Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will start 37th after crashing his No 84 AdventHealth Toyota during practice and failing to record a speed. Johnson’s car tagged the outside wall between Turns 1 and 2 after a slide. A co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, Johnson will spring for overtime pay to have his crew repair the car’s banged-up body and right rear corner overnight.
Johnson will make his second start of the season here as teammate to Cup regulars Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson raced in the season-opening Daytona 500, starting 23rd and finishing 28th. Johnson’s part-time schedule for 2024 includes TMS, Dover Motor Speedway (April 28), Kansas Speedway (May 5 and Sept. 29), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 21), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 26), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Oct. 20) and Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 10).
In addition to his record-tying seven Cup titles, Johnson excelled at TMS while wheeling various Chevrolets fielded by Hendrick Motorsports. Johnson leads all Cup Series drivers here via his seven victories (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 sweep and 2017) in 35 starts _ a winning figure of 20 percent.
“It is a bit different _ there is no doubt,” said Johnson, referring to the feel of his Next Gen Toyota. “I felt like we did a nice job trying to get me ready in the simulator. Unfortunately, I just got a little loose in Turn 1 _ I caught it _ but it’s such a narrow lane that once I caught the car I was in the wall, and I was kind of along with the ride then.”
FOX Sports 1 will broadcast the event starting at 2 p.m. (CDT). Live coverage also will be available on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Media Center Interview
NCS Pole Winner Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) –
