McDowell Leads Ford to Front Row Sweep at Talladega

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TALLADEGA, AL - RIS - Michael McDowell led qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday. McDowell and Front Row Motorsports proved to once again be unstoppable in qualifying on the superspeedways, leading both rounds of qualifying by a sizeable margin. It’s the second career pole for the Phoenix, Arizona-native, and the third front-row start for the No. 34 this year.

In the final round of qualifying, the 39-year-old racer posted a stunning time of 52.609 seconds (182.022mph) to earn himself the best starting spot for Sunday’s 188-lap event. McDowell posted a lap eight-hundredths of a second quicker than any driver in the final round en route to the pole.  Austin Cindric earned the season-best second-place starting spot, driving the No. 2 Ford Mustang for Team Penske — a new alliance partner for Front Row Motorsports this season. McDowell’s teammate at FRM, Todd Gilliland, earned a career-best starting spot of third place in his No. 38 Ford Mustang.

A pair of Chevrolet-backed drivers completed the top five in Saturday’s qualifying session, both from Richard Childress Racing, with Kyle Busch earning a fourth-place start and Austin Dillon just behind him in fifth. Martin Truex, Jr. was the fastest Toyota in sixth place, while Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell completed the top-10 after all getting a second on-track lap in qualifying on Saturday.

Contrary to the traditional performance of Hendrick Motorsports in superspeedway qualifying, Alex Bowman and William Byron both failed to advance to the second round of Saturday’s time trial session and will start from the 12th and 13th positions.

Drivers of note who didn't have good days include Bubba Wallace (14th), Ty Gibbs (15th), Tyler Reddick (18th), Ryan Blaney(21st), Brad Keselowski (22nd), Denny Hamlin (23rd), Daniel Suarez (25th), Ross Chastain (32nd), and Noah Gragson (36th).

Kyle Larson, winner of the last three NASCAR Cup Series poles at Richmond, Martinsville, and Texas, will start shotgun on the field for Sunday’s 500-mile contest at the 2.66-mile superspeedway after NASCAR determined the team made modifications to the roof rail as the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro was rolled to the grid.

The race gets underway at 3:30 PM on Sunday.

Qualifying: GEICO 500, Talladega Superspeedway
Round 1: 
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next 
1) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 52.741, 181.567, 0.000, 0.000 
2) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Cheddar's Chevrolet, 52.970, 180.782, 0.229, 0.229 
3) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 gener8tor Ford, 53.000, 180.679, 0.259, 0.030 
4) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 53.020, 180.611, 0.279, 0.020 
5) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 53.027, 180.587, 0.286, 0.007 
6) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 53.048, 180.516, 0.307, 0.021 
7) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, 53.086, 180.387, 0.345, 0.038 
8) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, 53.120, 180.271, 0.379, 0.034 
9) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 53.122, 180.264, 0.381, 0.002 
10) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 53.168, 180.108, 0.427, 0.046 
11) Ryan Preece, No. 41 United Rentals Ford, 53.175, 180.085, 0.434, 0.007 
12) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 53.183, 180.058, 0.442, 0.008 
13) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 53.185, 180.051, 0.444, 0.002 
14) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Leidos Toyota, 53.186, 180.047, 0.445, 0.001 
15) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 53.208, 179.973, 0.467, 0.022 
16) Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 53.211, 179.963, 0.470, 0.003 
17) Shane Van Gisbergen(i), No. 16 Wendy's Chevrolet, 53.226, 179.912, 0.485, 0.015 
18) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 53.262, 179.790, 0.521, 0.036 
19) Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet, 53.298, 179.669, 0.557, 0.036 
20) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 AdventHealth Toyota, 53.306, 179.642, 0.565, 0.008 
21) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Wabash Ford, 53.320, 179.595, 0.579, 0.014 
22) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Castrol Edge Ford, 53.322, 179.588, 0.581, 0.002 
23) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Ultimate Fan Contest Toyota, 53.407, 179.302, 0.666, 0.085 
24) Anthony Alfredo(i)*, No. 62 Dude Wipes Chevrolet, 53.411, 179.289, 0.670, 0.004 
25) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 53.414, 179.279, 0.673, 0.003 
26) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 53.455, 179.141, 0.714, 0.041 
27) Justin Haley, No. 51 Parts Plus Ford, 53.478, 179.064, 0.737, 0.023 
28) Erik Jones, No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota, 53.480, 179.058, 0.739, 0.002 
29) Josh Berry #, No. 4 Overstock.com Ford, 53.487, 179.034, 0.746, 0.007 
30) Zane Smith #, No. 71 Focused Health Chevrolet, 53.532, 178.884, 0.791, 0.045 
31) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 53.543, 178.847, 0.802, 0.011 
32) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Jockey Outdoors by Luke Bryan Chevrolet, 53.590, 178.690, 0.849, 0.047 
33) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Boost/Thomas'/Philadelphia Chevrolet, 53.686, 178.371, 0.945, 0.096 
34) Cody Ware, No. 15 Jacob Construction Ford, 53.720, 178.258, 0.979, 0.034 
35) Carson Hocevar #, No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 53.767, 178.102, 1.026, 0.047 
36) Noah Gragson, No. 10 Overstock.com Ford, 53.811, 177.956, 1.070, 0.044 
37) BJ McLeod(i)*, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, 54.290, 176.386, 1.549, 0.479 
38) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000, -----, -----
(*) Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Round 2: 
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next 
1) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 52.609 sec, 182.022 mph, ---, --- 
2) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 52.691, 181.739, 0.082, 0.082 
3) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 gener8tor Ford, 52.789, 181.401, 0.180, 0.098 
4) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Cheddar's Chevrolet, 52.863, 181.147, 0.254, 0.074 
5) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, 52.969, 180.785, 0.360, 0.106 
6) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 52.992, 180.707, 0.383, 0.023 
7) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 53.044, 180.529, 0.435, 0.052 
8) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 53.119, 180.274, 0.510, 0.075 
9) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 53.122, 180.264, 0.513, 0.003 
10) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, 53.198, 180.007, 0.589, 0.076
(*) Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Starting Line Up: GEICO 500, Talladega Superspeedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Michael McDowell, 34, Love's Travel Stops Ford, 52.609 sec, 182.022 mph
2) Austin Cindric, 2, Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 52.691, 181.739
3) Todd Gilliland, 38, gener8tor Ford, 52.789, 181.401
4) Kyle Busch, 8, Cheddar's Chevrolet, 52.863, 181.147
5) Austin Dillon, 3, Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, 52.969, 180.785
6) Martin Truex Jr., 19, Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 52.992, 180.707
7) Joey Logano, 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 53.044, 180.529
8) Chris Buescher, 17, Fastenal Ford, 53.119, 180.274
9) Chase Elliott, 9, NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 53.122, 180.264
10) Christopher Bell, 20, Mobil 1 Toyota, 53.198, 180.007
11) Ryan Preece, 41, United Rentals Ford, 53.175, 180.085
12) Alex Bowman, 48, Ally Chevrolet, 53.183, 180.058
13) William Byron, 24, Liberty University Chevrolet, 53.185, 180.051
14) Bubba Wallace, 23, Leidos Toyota, 53.186, 180.047
15) Ty Gibbs, 54, Monster Energy Toyota, 53.208, 179.973
16) Harrison Burton, 21, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 53.211, 179.963
17) Shane Van Gisbergen(i), 16, Wendy's Chevrolet, 53.226, 179.912
18) Tyler Reddick, 45, Jordan Brand Toyota, 53.262, 179.790
19) Daniel Hemric, 31, Cirkul Chevrolet, 53.298, 179.669
20) John Hunter Nemechek, 42, AdventHealth Toyota, 53.306, 179.642
21) Ryan Blaney, 12, Wabash Ford, 53.320, 179.595
22) Brad Keselowski, 6, Castrol Edge Ford, 53.322, 179.588
23) Denny Hamlin, 11, FedEx Ultimate Fan Contest Toyota, 53.407, 179.302
24) Anthony Alfredo(i), 62, Dude Wipes Chevrolet, 53.411, 179.289
25) Daniel Suarez, 99, Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 53.414, 179.279
26) Chase Briscoe, 14, Mahindra Tractors Ford, 53.455, 179.141
27) Justin Haley, 51, Parts Plus Ford, 53.478, 179.064
28) Erik Jones, 43, Family Dollar Toyota, 53.480, 179.058
29) Josh Berry #, 4, Overstock.com Ford, 53.487, 179.034
30) Zane Smith #, 71, Focused Health Chevrolet, 53.532, 178.884
31) Corey LaJoie, 7, Gainbridge Chevrolet, 53.543, 178.847
32) Ross Chastain, 1, Jockey Outdoors by Luke Bryan Chevrolet, 53.590, 178.690
33) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 47, Boost/Thomas'/Philadelphia Chevrolet, 53.686, 178.371
34) Cody Ware, 15, Jacob Construction Ford, 53.720, 178.258
35) Carson Hocevar #, 77, Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 53.767, 178.102
36) Noah Gragson, 10, Overstock.com Ford, 53.811, 177.956
37) BJ McLeod(i), 78, Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, 54.290, 176.386
38) Kyle Larson, 5, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Track Qualifying Record: Bill Elliott, 05/03/87, 44.998 sec, 212.809 mph

Track Race Record: Mark Martin  05/10/97 2:39:18 188.354 mph