William Byron drives during practice for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images
William Byron won the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a lap of 166.389 mph – his first pole position of the 2022 season and eighth of his career.
“It’s not like a guaranteed point gain,’’ Byron said, “The pit stall is good, I’m happy with that part of it. And just the momentum for the team. We’ve tried to get poles this year and we’ve come close, third, second – kind of all around that area. But it’s nice to kind of knock that off the list.
“That’s one of the things you want to do going into a season, win a pole. It shows where our team is and hopefully that’s a good sign.’’
Byron – the defending Homestead-Miami race winner – edged fellow NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contender Christopher Bell for the top starting position – his lap only .049-second faster than Bell’s.
Dawsonville, Georgia’s Chase Elliott will start third, alongside John Hunter Nemechek, who was impressive on track all morning – posting the fastest lap during practice. Nemechek, who is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship contender, is driving the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota this week for the team’s fulltime driver Bubba Wallace, who is serving a one-race suspension from NASCAR for dangerous driving last week at Las Vegas.
Kyle Larson, who was involved with Wallace in that incident, will start fifth. He’ll line up alongside Ty Gibbs.
Tyler Reddick qualified seventh just ahead of Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski.
Xfinity Series championship contender A.J. Allmendinger was 10th – rounding out those that advanced to the final round of qualifying.
Five of the eight Playoff drivers did not make the second round of time trials on Saturday, including Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin, who will roll off 13th and 14th, respectively. Joey Logano, the only driver who has already clinched a position in the Championship 4 with a victory at Las Vegas last Sunday, will start 17th.
Chase Briscoe and Ross Chastain will start 19th and 20th on the grid.
NASCAR Cup Series
Homestead-Miami Speedway – Homestead, FL
Dixie Vodka 400 – October 22, 2022
Saturday’s Qualifying Results
Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
1. 24 William Byron (P) Liberty University Chevrolet 32.454 166.389
2. 20 Christopher Bell (P) Rheem – WATTS Toyota 32.503 166.139
3. 9 Chase Elliott (P) NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 32.504 166.133
4. 45 John Hunter Nemechek(i) Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota 32.534 165.980
5. 5 Kyle Larson (P) Valvoline Chevrolet 32.551 165.894
6. 23 Ty Gibbs(i) Monster Energy Toyota 32.556 165.868
7. 8 Tyler Reddick 3CHI Chevrolet 32.614 165.573
8. 17 Chris Buescher Fastenal Ford 32.627 165.507
9. 6 Brad Keselowski Violet Defense Ford 32.662 165.330
10. 16 A.J. Allmendinger(i) Ed Morse Automotive Group Chevrolet 32.751 164.880
11. 18 Kyle Busch Skittles Lime is Back Toyota 32.401 166.662
12. 19 Martin Truex, Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota 32.405 166.641
13. 12 Ryan Blaney (P) Menards/Pennzoil Ford 32.424 166.543
14. 11 Denny Hamlin (P) FedEx Ground Toyota 32.448 166.420
15. 31 Justin Haley LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet 32.448 166.420
16. 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light Ford 32.476 166.277
17. 22 Joey Logano (P) Shell Pennzoil Ford 32.482 166.246
18. 34 Michael McDowell Love’s Travel Stops Ford 32.498 166.164
19. 14 Chase Briscoe (P) Magical Vacation Planner Ford 32.531 165.996
20. 1 Ross Chastain (P) Kubota Chevrolet 32.534 165.980
21. 21 Harrison Burton # DEX Imaging Ford 32.552 165.888
22. 43 Erik Jones The Morgan Law Group Chevrolet 32.605 165.619
23. 99 Daniel Suarez Princess Cruises Chevrolet 32.609 165.598
24. 48 Noah Gragson(i) Ally Chevrolet 32.617 165.558
25. 41 Cole Custer Dixie Vodka Ford 32.669 165.294
26. 2 Austin Cindric # Freightliner Ford 32.728 164.996
27. 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kroger/Slim Jim Chevrolet 32.734 164.966
28. 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield Premium Bacon Ford 32.761 164.830
29. 38 Todd Gilliland # EO South Florida Ford 32.776 164.755
30. 42 Ty Dillon SunseekerResorts.com Chevrolet 32.796 164.654
31. 7 Corey LaJoie Built.com Chevrolet 32.854 164.364
32. 3 Austin Dillon Huk Chevrolet 32.973 163.770
33. 77 Landon Cassill(i) Zeigler Auto/LoJack Chevrolet 33.124 163.024
34. 15 J.J. Yeley(i) Jacob Companies Ford 33.127 163.009
35. 78 B.J. McLeod(i) MSG Frankie Zombie Ford 33.380 161.774
36. 51 Cody Ware Nurtec ODT UBCF Ford 33.615 160.643
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (P) Playoff driver
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