Blaney Takes Pole Position at Phoenix

Ryan Blaney will lead the field to the green flag on Sunday after winning the pole for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix Raceway.

The driver of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford posted the fastest time in the final round of qualifying with a time of 26.098 and a speed of 137.942 mph.

“It was a good run for us. We got better each round. Honestly, I didn’t think it was going to be enough. I didn’t think I got the best lap out there. I tried to get more the second lap and I messed up. Really cool, we started second here in the spring race. It’s nice to be on the pole here. This is cool. Sitting on the pole at a short track. I never would’ve thought I’d be doing that. Can’t thank SKF and Quicklane enough. Motorcraft for what they do. A good start to the weekend. Hopefully, we can just keep it going.”

It’s his second pole in 89-career starts.

Denny Hamlin will start second with a time of 26.099 and a speed of 137.936 mph. Kyle Larson will start third with a time of 26.101 and a speed of 137.926 mph. Chase Elliott will start fourth with a time of 26.155 and a speed of 137.641 mph. Martin Truex Jr. will round out the top-five starters with a time of 26.166 and a speed of 137.583 mph.

Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez will round out the top-10 starters.

Erik Jones and Jimmie Johnson will round out the 12 drivers that made the final round of qualifying.

With 40 drivers entered, none failed to make the race.

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

Tucker White
Tucker White
I've followed NASCAR for well over 20 years of my life, both as a fan and now as a member of the media. As of 2024, I'm on my ninth season as a traveling NASCAR beat writer. For all its flaws and dumb moments, NASCAR at its best produces some of the best action you'll ever see in the sport of auto racing. Case in point: Kyle Larson's threading the needle pass at Darlington Raceway on May 9, 2021. On used-up tires, racing on a worn surface and an aero package that put his car on the razor's edge of control, Larson demonstrated why he's a generational talent. Those are the stories I want to capture and break down. In addition to NASCAR, I also follow IndyCar and Formula 1. As a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, I'm a diehard Tennessee Volunteers fan (especially in regards to Tennessee football). If covering NASCAR doesn't kill me, down the road, watching Tennessee football will. I'm also a diehard fan of the Atlanta Braves, and I lived long enough to see them win a World Series for the first time since 1995 (when I was just a year old). I've also sworn my fan allegiance to the Nashville Predators, though that's not paid out as much as the Braves. Furthermore, as a massive sports dork, I follow the NFL on a weekly basis. Though it's more out of an obligation than genuine passion (for sports dorks, following the NFL is basically an unwritten rule). Outside of sports, I'm a major cinema buff and a weeb. My favorite film is "Blazing Saddles" and my favorite anime is "Black Lagoon."

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