Additional Coverage:
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — On Saturday, Ross Chastain secured the pole position during Cup qualifying at Watkins Glen International, with just five playoff drivers making it into the top 10 starting spots.
Chastain’s pole comes from a lap time clocked at 122.279 mph, marking his first pole of this season and the second in his Cup career. Martin Truex Jr., the highest qualifying playoff driver, will start second with a lap speed of 122.052 mph.
Shane van Gisbergen posted a lap speed of 121.864 mph to take third place, while playoff contenders Alex Bowman and Austin Cindric secured fourth and fifth with speeds of 121.843 mph and 121.779 mph, respectively.
Historically, starting at the front has been crucial at Watkins Glen, as the last six Cup winners have begun their races from the top five, and three out of the last four winners have started on the front row.
Other playoff drivers in the top 10 include Joey Logano, who will start seventh, and Daniel Suarez, who will start eighth.
However, many playoff drivers found themselves further back in the field. Kyle Larson will start 20th, Denny Hamlin will be in 21st, Brad Keselowski lines up 28th, and Ryan Blaney will begin 30th.
Notably, Juan Pablo Montoya, returning to the Cup series for the first time since 2014, will start in the 34th position.