In a remarkable display of speed and precision, Michael McDowell secured the pole position for the upcoming Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Piloting the No. 71 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, McDowell clocked a blistering lap time of 28.883 seconds, translating to an average speed of 186.961 mph.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for McDowell, who has been showcasing consistent performance throughout the season. Notably, he clinched his first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2024, achieving this feat in his 467th start—a record for the most starts before a first pole. Since then, McDowell has continued to demonstrate his qualifying prowess, securing multiple pole positions.
The partnership between McDowell and Spire Motorsports has been fruitful, with the team making significant strides in performance. Despite facing challenges, such as inspection setbacks at Phoenix Raceway earlier this month, where the No. 71 Chevrolet failed pre-qualifying inspection twice leading to the ejection of the car chief, the team has shown resilience and determination. McDowell’s pole at Las Vegas serves as a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence.
As the field prepares for the Pennzoil 400, all eyes will be on McDowell and the No. 71 team. Starting from the front, they aim to capitalize on this prime position and convert their qualifying success into a strong race performance. Fans and analysts alike will be keen to see if McDowell can maintain his momentum and secure a coveted victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Las Vegas Cup Series Starting Lineup
Qualifying: March 15, 2025; Race to be held: March 16, 2025
|
POSITION
|
BEST SPEED
|
BEST TIME
|
BEHIND
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
M. McDowell#71
|
186.961
|
28.883
|
Leader
|
|
2 |
J. Logano#22
|
186.864
|
28.898
|
0.015
|
|
3 |
A. Cindric#2
|
186.793
|
28.909
|
0.026
|
|
4 |
K. Busch#8
|
186.638
|
28.933
|
0.050
|
|
5 |
E. Jones#43
|
186.632
|
28.934
|
0.051
|
|
6 |
A. Bowman#48
|
186.619
|
28.936
|
0.053
|
|
7 |
J. Berry#21
|
186.599
|
28.939
|
0.056
|
|
8 |
W. Byron#24
|
186.567
|
28.944
|
0.061
|
|
9 |
Z. Smith#38
|
186.554
|
28.946
|
0.063
|
|
10 |
K. Larson#5
|
186.528
|
28.950
|
0.067
|
|
11 |
C. Buescher#17
|
186.438
|
28.964
|
0.081
|
|
12 |
R. Preece#60
|
186.419
|
28.967
|
0.084
|
|
13 |
C. Bell#20
|
186.310
|
28.984
|
0.101
|
|
14 |
T. Reddick#45
|
186.265
|
28.991
|
0.108
|
|
15 |
D. Hamlin#11
|
186.239
|
28.995
|
0.112
|
|
16 |
C. Elliott#9
|
186.207
|
29.000
|
0.117
|
|
17 |
T. Dillon#10
|
186.085
|
29.019
|
0.136
|
|
18 |
A. Allmendinger#16
|
186.079
|
29.020
|
0.137
|
|
19 |
R. Chastain#1
|
186.072
|
29.021
|
0.138
|
|
20 |
B. Wallace#23
|
185.982
|
29.035
|
0.152
|
|
21 |
N. Gragson#4
|
185.829
|
29.059
|
0.176
|
|
22 |
A. Dillon#3
|
185.771
|
29.068
|
0.185
|
|
23 |
D. Suárez#99
|
185.682
|
29.082
|
0.199
|
|
24 |
C. Briscoe#19
|
185.370
|
29.131
|
0.248
|
|
25 |
C. Hocevar#77
|
185.357
|
29.133
|
0.250
|
|
26 |
C. Custer#41
|
185.344
|
29.135
|
0.252
|
|
27 |
B. Keselowski#6
|
185.255
|
29.149
|
0.266
|
|
28 |
S. Van Gisbergen#88
|
185.027
|
29.185
|
0.302
|
|
29 |
T. Gibbs#54
|
184.989
|
29.191
|
0.308
|
|
30 |
J. Nemechek#42
|
184.660
|
29.243
|
0.360
|
|
31 |
R. Stenhouse Jr#47
|
184.395
|
29.285
|
0.402
|
|
32 |
T. Gilliland#34
|
184.024
|
29.344
|
0.461
|
|
33 |
J. Haley#7
|
183.855
|
29.371
|
0.488
|
|
34 |
R. Herbst#35
|
181.281
|
29.788
|
0.905
|
|
35 |
C. Ware#51
|
179.444
|
30.093
|
1.210
|
