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NASCAR / NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400: Qualifying, Chase Briscoe’s 3rd Straight Pole Position, Lineup At MIS

NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400: Qualifying, Chase Briscoe’s 3rd Straight Pole Position, Lineup At MIS

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
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When one wins three straight NASCAR Cup Series pole positions, the driver can become a bit picky. 

After Chase Briscoe turned a hot qualifying lap clocked at 36.826 seconds Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, he was not too pleased with his performance. 

Especially around Turns 3 and 4 at the two-mile D-shaped oval. 

“I ran low, but ended way high on exit,” Briscoe told Prime after earning his fourth pole this season. “I wasn’t convinced the time would hold up.”

Two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch will start on the outside of the front row, finishing 0.027 seconds behind Briscoe. 

The second row features Denny Hamlin (36.861 mph), who remains on baby watch, and Cup points leader William Byron (36.878). 

With all of Briscoe’s qualifying bravado, the No. 19 Toyota team still seeks its first win since Martin Truex Jr. retired at the end of last season. With five top-five finishes in 14 starts, Briscoe ranks No. 11 in the drivers’ standings. 

“It’ll be nice starting up front,” Briscoe said. “I’ve been able to do that three weeks in a row. Hopefully, the third time is the charm and we can get one Sunday. 

“I gotta do a better job overall. It’s nice doing good on Saturdays, but I have to do it on Sundays, as well.” 

NASCAR Karma At Play With Carson Hocevar, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

NASCAR karma can be a …  

Well, let’s just say, kinda cool. 

After last Sunday’s dustup at Nashville Superspeedway, featuring Carson Hocevar taking out Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on Lap 106, the two will get close this weekend. After the incident, Stenhouse criticized Hocevar’s aggressive move, leading to a last-place finish. Hocevar cruised to a career-best runner-up finish, although he was 2.830 seconds behind race winner Ryan Blaney. 

Sunday’s incident helped Hocevar move up five spots to No. 17 in the drivers’ standings, while Stenhouse dropped from No. 13 to No. 18. Two points separate them. Neither has qualified for the playoffs.

Stenhouse confirmed the two did speak midweek. Will emotions carry over to Michigan?

Hocevar and Stenhouse will share a garage stall and work side-by-side. In the 107th running at MIS, Hocevar could become the first Michigan native to win in the Irish Hills. Could Stenhouse play a late-race role?

Karma can be cool, eh?

Starting Lineup for FireKeepers Casino 400    

Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway: 

Starting Position, Driver, Car No. 

  •  1, Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
  • 2, Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
  • 3, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
  • 4, William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
  • 5, Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
  • 6, Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
  • 7, Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
  • 8, Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
  • 9, Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
  • 10, Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
  • 11, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
  • 12, Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
  • 13, Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
  • 14, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
  • 15, Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
  • 16, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
  • 17, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
  • 18, Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
  • 19, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
  • 20, Ross Chastain, no. 1 Chevrolet
  • 21, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
  • 22, Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
  • 23, Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
  • 24, Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford
  • 25, Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
  • 26, Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet
  • 27, Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
  • 28, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
  • 29, Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
  • 30, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
  • 31, Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet
  • 32, Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
  • 33, Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
  • 34, Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
  • 35, Daniel Squarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
  • 36, Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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