After a brief delay for some light drizzle, Gibbs rocketed to top of the leaderboard in the final round of Saturday’s qualifying with an average lap speed of 183.953 mph – the fastest lap of the day.
The pole is the first of Gibbs’ Cup career and will come in his 65th start in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 54 Toyota. He also started on the pole in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at the track.
POLE SWEEP. @TyGibbs takes the pole for the #CocaCola600. pic.twitter.com/DKzNAy9LbJ
— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) May 25, 2024
“It’s really cool to get my first pole in the Coca Cola 600. I’m super excited,” said Gibbs, who had started second three times already this season. “I hope I can turn it into my first win tomorrow.”
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron – who spun earlier in the day in practice – ended second quick (183.580 mph) and Gibbs’ JGR teammate, Christopher Bell, was third (183.461 mph).
JGR team-mate Martin Truex Jr. was fourth and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.
Completing the top-10 starting lineup are Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Michael McDowell and Kyle Larson, who will attempt to become the fifth driver to run the Indy 500 and Coke 600 on the same day.
Reddick will start Sunday night’s race from the rear of the field after his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota was penalized by NASCAR for a violation in pre-qualifying inspection.
| CLA | DRIVER | # | MANUFACTURER | LAPS | TIME | INTERVAL | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
T. GibbsJOE GIBBS RACING
|
54 | Toyota | 1 |
29.355 |
183.955 | ||
| 2 | W. ByronHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 24 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.060 29.415 |
0.060 | 183.580 | |
| 3 | C. BellJOE GIBBS RACING | 20 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.079 29.434 |
0.019 | 183.461 | |
| 4 | M. Truex JrJOE GIBBS RACING | 19 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.174 29.529 |
0.095 | 182.871 | |
| 5 | C. ElliottHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 9 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.201 29.556 |
0.027 | 182.704 | |
| 6 | A. BowmanHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 48 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.214 29.569 |
0.013 | 182.624 | |
| 7 | R. ChastainTRACKHOUSE RACING | 1 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.269 29.624 |
0.055 | 182.285 | |
| 8 | T. Reddick23XI RACING | 45 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.293 29.648 |
0.024 | 182.137 | |
| 9 | M. McDowellFRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS | 34 | Ford | 1 |
+0.334 29.689 |
0.041 | 181.886 | |
| 10 | K. LarsonHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 5 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.364 29.719 |
0.030 | 181.702 |
Round 1 / Group A
Reddick and Bell tied for the same average lap speed (181.733 mph) in the first group, although Reddick will have to start from the rear of the field regardless of where he ends up qualifying.
McDowell ended up third fastest (181.415 mph). Also advancing to the final round of qualifying were Chastain and Byron, who was fastest in Saturday’s practice.
Among those who failed to advance were Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace and Brad Keselowski.
| CLA | DRIVER | # | MANUFACTURER | LAPS | TIME | INTERVAL | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T. Reddick23XI RACING | 45 | Toyota | 1 |
29.714 |
181.733 | ||
| 2 | C. BellJOE GIBBS RACING | 20 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.000 29.714 |
0.000 | 181.733 | |
| 3 | M. McDowellFRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS | 34 | Ford | 1 |
+0.052 29.766 |
0.052 | 181.415 | |
| 4 | R. ChastainTRACKHOUSE RACING | 1 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.060 29.774 |
0.008 | 181.366 | |
| 5 | W. ByronHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 24 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.099 29.813 |
0.039 | 181.129 | |
| 6 | B. Wallace23XI RACING | 23 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.147 29.861 |
0.048 | 180.838 | |
| 7 | D. SuarezTRACKHOUSE RACING | 99 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.158 29.872 |
0.011 | 180.771 | |
| 8 | R. BlaneyTEAM PENSKE | 12 | Ford | 1 |
+0.198 29.912 |
0.040 | 180.530 | |
| 9 | C. BriscoeSTEWART-HAAS RACING | 14 | Ford | 1 |
+0.273 29.987 |
0.075 | 180.078 | |
| 10 |
C. HocevarSPIRE MOTORSPORTS
|
77 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.310 30.024 |
0.037 | 179.856 | |
| 11 | J. HaleyRICK WARE RACING | 51 | Ford | 1 |
+0.320 30.034 |
0.010 | 179.796 | |
| 12 | D. HemricKAULIG RACING | 31 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.328 30.042 |
0.008 | 179.748 | |
| 13 | J. NemechekLEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 42 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.344 30.058 |
0.016 | 179.653 | |
| 14 | J. LoganoTEAM PENSKE | 22 | Ford | 1 |
+0.387 30.101 |
0.043 | 179.396 | |
| 15 | B. KeselowskiRFK RACING | 6 | Ford | 1 |
+0.412 30.126 |
0.025 | 179.247 | |
| 16 | H. BurtonWOOD BROTHERS RACING | 21 | Ford | 1 |
+0.461 30.175 |
0.049 | 178.956 | |
| 17 | E. JonesLEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 43 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.581 30.295 |
0.120 | 178.247 | |
| 18 | S. van GisbergenKAULIG RACING | 16 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.759 30.473 |
0.178 | 177.206 | |
| 19 | T. DillonTEAM AMERIVET | 50 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.910 30.624 |
0.151 | 176.332 | |
| 20 | J. YeleyNY RACING TEAM | 44 | Chevrolet | 0 |
|
Round 1 / Group B
Truex led the way in the second group with an average lap speed of 182.902 mph – the fastest speed of the day at the time.
Bowman was second fastest (182.871 mph) and Gibbs was third (182.303 mph).
Also advancing to the final round of qualifying were Larson and Elliott.
Among those who failed to advance were Denny Hamlin, Josh Berry, Kyle Busch and Austin Cindric.
Chris Buescher, who wrecked in Saturday’s practice, moved to a backup car and did not participate in qualifying. He will have to start Sunday night’s race from the rear of the field.
| CLA | DRIVER | # | MANUFACTURER | LAPS | TIME | INTERVAL | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. Truex JrJOE GIBBS RACING | 19 | Toyota | 1 |
29.524 |
182.902 | ||
| 2 | A. BowmanHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 48 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.005 29.529 |
0.005 | 182.871 | |
| 3 |
T. GibbsJOE GIBBS RACING
|
54 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.097 29.621 |
0.092 | 182.303 | |
| 4 | K. LarsonHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 5 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.187 29.711 |
0.090 | 181.751 | |
| 5 | C. ElliottHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 9 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.211 29.735 |
0.024 | 181.604 | |
| 6 | D. HamlinJOE GIBBS RACING | 11 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.222 29.746 |
0.011 | 181.537 | |
| 7 | J. BerrySTEWART-HAAS RACING | 4 | Ford | 1 |
+0.225 29.749 |
0.003 | 181.519 | |
| 8 | K. BuschRICHARD CHILDRESS RACING | 8 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.232 29.756 |
0.007 | 181.476 | |
| 9 | A. CindricTEAM PENSKE | 2 | Ford | 1 |
+0.307 29.831 |
0.075 | 181.020 | |
| 10 | N. GragsonSTEWART-HAAS RACING | 10 | Ford | 1 |
+0.353 29.877 |
0.046 | 180.741 | |
| 11 | C. LajoieSPIRE MOTORSPORTS | 7 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.361 29.885 |
0.008 | 180.693 | |
| 12 | R. Stenhouse JrJTG DAUGHERTY RACING | 47 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.378 29.902 |
0.017 | 180.590 | |
| 13 |
Z. SmithSPIRE MOTORSPORTS
|
71 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.404 29.928 |
0.026 | 180.433 | |
| 14 | A. DillonRICHARD CHILDRESS RACING | 3 | Chevrolet | 1 |
+0.436 29.960 |
0.032 | 180.240 | |
| 15 | J. JohnsonLEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 84 | Toyota | 1 |
+0.524 30.048 |
0.088 | 179.712 | |
| 16 | R. PreeceSTEWART-HAAS RACING | 41 | Ford | 1 |
+0.603 30.127 |
0.079 | 179.241 | |
| 17 | K. GralaRICK WARE RACING | 15 | Ford | 1 |
+0.652 30.176 |
0.049 | 178.950 | |
| 18 | T. GillilandFRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS | 38 | Ford | 1 |
+0.850 30.374 |
0.198 | 177.784 | |
| 19 | B. McLeodPOWER SOURCE | 66 | Ford | 1 |
+0.960 30.484 |
0.110 | 177.142 | |
| 20 | C. BuescherRFK RACING | 17 | Ford | 0 |
|
