NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch earned his first pole position in 123 starts.
Piloting the No. 8 Toyota to a hot lap of 137.187 mph during qualifying Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Busch will begin Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 on the inside of the front row for the first time since 2019 at Phoenix Raceway.
“We made a lot of adjustments,” Busch told Fox Sports after clinching his 33rd career pole. “I got everything I could get out of it.
“Overall, a good day.”
Coming off last Monday’s rain-delayed win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney placed second Saturday, earning his first front-row start of the season.
“We carried the speed into qualifying,” Blaney said. “We’ll have a fast car for tomorrow.”
Defending race champion Joey Logano will start sixth after topping the practice field at 136.857 mph.
Replacing the suspended Chase Elliott in the No. 9 Chevrolet, Corey LaJoie will start 30th and Truck Series regular Carson Hocevar, making his Cup debut for Shire Motorsports in the No. 7 Chevrolet, opens P26.
Rowdy gets it done in qualifying! Retweet to congratualte Kyle Busch on his NASCAR Cup Series POLE in St. Louis. #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/lrQ0FpvyFU
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 3, 2023
Stewart-Haas Racing, Chase Briscoe Hit With Major Penalties
Hit with NASCAR’s most severe penalty, Stewart-Haas Racing and driver Chase Briscoe is left to make up a lot of ground in the Cup Series standings, starting Sunday during the Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway.
NASCAR’s sanctioning body deemed the team used a counterfeit part during last week’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Among the penalties levied, the No. 14 Ford team lost 120 points in the owner and driver standings, 25 playoff points if the garage qualifies for the postseason, a six-point race suspension for crew chief John Klausmeier and a $250,000 fine.
“In the post-race inspection at the R&D Center, we found the No. 14 car had an engine panel NACA duct not in compliance with the rule book,” NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer told NASCAR.com. “It is a counterfeit part, and that is an L3 penalty.
“We need to make sure we’re keeping the teams and the car in compliance.”
In response to the penalties, Stewart-Haas Racing released a statement: “We had a quality control lapse and a part that never should’ve been on a car going to the race track ended up on the No. 14 car at Charlotte. We accept NASCAR’s decision and will not appeal.”
The loss of driver points dropped Briscoe to 31st in the standings, indicating he likely will have to win a race over the final 12 events to qualify for the playoffs.
#NASCAR hammered Stewart-Haas Racing with one of its biggest penalties ever. https://t.co/NG1vZHaVdj
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 31, 2023
Starting Lineup for NASCAR Cup Series’ Enjoy Illinois 300
Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway:
Starting Position, Driver, Car No., Team
- 1, Kyle Busch, 8, Richard Childress Racing
- 2, Ryan Blaney, 12, Team Penske
- 3, Denny Hamlin, 11, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 4, Kevin Harvick, 4, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 5, Martin Truex Jr., 19, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 6, Joey Logano, 22, Team Penske
- 7, William Byron, 24, Hendrick Motorsports
- 8, Ross Chastain, 1, Trackhouse Racing
- 9, Tyler Reddick, 45, 23XI Racing
- 10, Austin Cindric, 2, Team Penske
- 11, AJ Allmendinger, 16, Kaulig Racing
- 12, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 47, JTG Daugherty Racing
- 13, Daniel Suarez, 99, Trackhouse Racing
- 14, Harrison Burton, 21, Wood Brothers Racing
- 15, Ty Gibbs, 54, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 16, Austin Dillon, 3, Richard Childress Racing
- 17, Christopher Bell, 20, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 18, Alex Bowman, 48, Hendrick Motorsports
- 19, Brad Keselowski, 6, RFK Racing
- 20, Bubba Wallace, 23, 23XI Racing
- 21, Michael McDowell, 34, Front Row Motorsports
- 22, Kyle Larson, 5, Hendrick Motorsports
- 23, Justin Haley, 31, Kaulig Racing
- 24, Aric Almirola, 10, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 25, Chase Briscoe, 14, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 26, Carson Hocevar, 7, Spire Motorsports
- 27, Chris Buescher, 17, RFK Racing
- 28, Todd Gilliland, 38, Front Row Motorsports
- 29, Ryan Preece, 41, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 30, Corey LaJoie, 9, Hendrick Motorsports
- 31, Erik Jones, 43, Legacy Motor Club
- 32, Noah Gragson, 42, Legacy Motor Club
- 33, Ty Dillon, 77, Spire Motorsports
- 34, BJ McLeod, 78, Live Fast Motorsports
- 35, Gray Gaulding, 15, Rick Ware Racing
- 36, JJ Yeley, 51, Rick Ware Racing
St. Louis. Sunday on FS1. pic.twitter.com/4DZnPeQ72K
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 31, 2023
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