Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global

Tyler Reddick takes surprise NASCAR Cup Series pole at COTA

Tyler Reddick topped Kyle Larson and won the pole for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA.

Pole award winner Tyler Reddick, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Pole award winner Tyler Reddick, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Chris Graythen - Getty Images

Reddick was second in the first round to A.J. Allmendinger but was among the first to go out in the Sunday’s final round and led the way with an average speed of 92.363 mph. He will lead the field to green Sunday afternoon in the Texas Grand Prix.

The pole is the first for Reddick in his Cup career and the first for Richard Childress Racing on a road course event since the late Dale Earnhardt won the pole for the 1996 race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

 

“I was absolutely terrible on road courses for a long time, but I still have a lot to learn. It’s hard to put into words. We haven’t even raced yet and that’s a big accomplishment for us,” Reddick said.

“It’s no secret, in my career, road courses were something I never understood. I didn’t know when the light bulb was going to go off.”

Larson ended up at 92.263 mph and Austin Cindric – making one of a handful of Cup starts this season – came in third at 91.820 mph.

“We were good, I didn’t really attack the braking zone into (Turn) 12 like I needed to,” Larson said. “I didn’t want to overdrive it and mess up my lap. A little disappointed in myself but really proud to not have much track time.”

Kyle Busch was fourth and William Byron – who led Saturday’s practice – rounded out the top-five.

Completing the top-12 lineup are Joey Logano, Allmendinger, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Kevin Harvick and Alex Bowman.

Cla # Driver Manufacturer Laps Time Gap Interval Mph
1 8 United States Tyler Reddick Chevrolet 1 2'12.911     92.363
2 5 United States Kyle Larson Chevrolet 1 2'13.011 0.100 0.100 92.293
3 33 United States Austin Cindric Ford 1 2'13.697 0.786 0.686 91.820
4 18 United States Kyle Busch Toyota 1 2'13.708 0.797 0.011 91.812
5 24 United States William Byron Chevrolet 1 2'13.760 0.849 0.052 91.776
6 22 United States Joey Logano Ford 1 2'13.791 0.880 0.031 91.755
7 16 United States A.J. Allmendinger Chevrolet 1 2'13.842 0.931 0.051 91.720
8 9 United States Chase Elliott Chevrolet 1 2'14.117 1.206 0.275 91.532
9 12 United States Ryan Blaney Ford 1 2'14.518 1.607 0.401 91.259
10 20 United States Christopher Bell Toyota 1 2'14.548 1.637 0.030 91.239
11 4 United States Kevin Harvick Ford 1 2'14.792 1.881 0.244 91.074
12 48 United States Alex Bowman Chevrolet 2 2'14.894 1.983 0.102 91.005

Round 1

Allmendinger led the way in the first 25-minute session of qualifying, which remained dry for the most part despite a threat of rain.

Allmendinger’s average lap speed of 91.962 mph was set early in the session as were the speeds of second-place Reddick (91.885 mph) and Cindric (91.715 mph).

Kyle Busch posted the fourth-fastest lap and Logano rounded out the top-five.

Completing the top-12 and advancing to Round 2 were Byron, Larson, Bell, Elliott, Harvick, Blaney and Bowman.

Denny Hamlin experienced problems with his power steering during his initial flying lap and despite making adjustments on pit road, still ended up 19th-fastest.

“The power steering, I couldn’t turn it all the way to the left. I was limited on the range of motion I could actually turn the wheel, so I think an air bubble issue in the system,” Hamlin said. “We’ll get that out and be OK. Track time is super-important.”

Among those just missing the cutoff were Kurt Busch, Cole Custer, Daniel Suarez, Austin Dillon and Martin Truex Jr.

“Just not enough time on the race track. Going out on the track yesterday and try to figure out the wet then you get 1 or 2 shots in the dry,” Truex said. “If we get some long green runs we’re going to be fine just need to get our rhythm.”

13 1 United States Kurt Busch Chevrolet 3 2'14.708 1.218 0.130 91.130
14 41 United States Cole Custer Ford 3 2'15.025 1.535 0.317 90.916
15 99 Mexico Daniel Suarez Chevrolet 5 2'15.118 1.628 0.093 90.854
16 3 United States Austin Dillon Chevrolet 3 2'15.325 1.835 0.207 90.715
17 19 United States Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 3 2'15.375 1.885 0.050 90.681
18 23 United States Bubba Wallace Toyota 5 2'15.416 1.926 0.041 90.654
19 11 United States Denny Hamlin Toyota 5 2'15.528 2.038 0.112 90.579
20 42 United States Ross Chastain Chevrolet 3 2'15.685 2.195 0.157 90.474
21 47 United States Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Chevrolet 3 2'15.852 2.362 0.167 90.363
22 21 United States Matt DiBenedetto Ford 4 2'15.852 2.362 0.000 90.363
23 34 United States Michael McDowell Ford 4 2'15.902 2.412 0.050 90.330
24 2 United States Brad Keselowski Ford 3 2'15.929 2.439 0.027 90.312
25 7 United States Corey Lajoie Chevrolet 5 2'16.245 2.755 0.316 90.102
26 10 United States Aric Almirola Ford 3 2'16.558 3.068 0.313 89.896
27 14 United States Chase Briscoe Ford 5 2'16.686 3.196 0.128 89.812
28 17 United States Chris Buescher Ford 2 2'16.728 3.238 0.042 89.784
29 43 United States Erik Jones Chevrolet 5 2'17.032 3.542 0.304 89.585
30 77 United States Justin Haley Chevrolet 4 2'17.051 3.561 0.019 89.572
31 52 United States Josh Bilicki Ford 2 2'17.246 3.756 0.195 89.445
32 15 Australia James Davison Chevrolet 2 2'17.563 4.073 0.317 89.239
33 96 United States Ty Dillon Toyota 3 2'17.682 4.192 0.119 89.162
34 6 United States Ryan Newman Ford 5 2'18.067 4.577 0.385 88.913
35 51 United States Cody Ware Chevrolet 5 2'18.194 4.704 0.127 88.832
36 37 United States Ryan Preece Chevrolet 8 2'18.252 4.762 0.058 88.794
37 38 Anthony Alfredo Ford 2 2'18.701 5.211 0.449 88.507
38 53 United States Garrett Smithley Ford 5 2'18.804 5.314 0.103 88.441
39 78 United Kingdom Kyle Tilley Ford 1 2'20.361 6.871 1.557 87.460
40 00 United States Quin Houff Chevrolet 5 2'20.985 7.495 0.624 87.073

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation

Related video

Previous article William Byron tops wild and wet NASCAR Cup practice at COTA
Next article Harvick 'never felt more unsafe' after racing in the rain at COTA

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global