Ryan Blaney Wins Pole for Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway

Ryan Blaney will start on the pole for Sunday’s Quaker State 400, the NASCAR Cup Series event slated for EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The Team Penske driver posted a lap of 30.815 seconds, edging teammate Joey Logano by just a half‑tenth of a second in the second round of qualifying. With Penske sweeping the front row, the duo will lead the field when the green flag waves around 6:15 p.m. CT.

Team Penske Dominates Front Row

Blaney’s pole position marks the first time a Ford driver leads the grid at the 2026 Quaker State 400. He outpaced Logano, who settled for the second spot, while the rest of the field scrambled for the remaining positions. The front‑row lock‑out underscores the strength of Penske’s program heading into a critical mid‑season stretch.

Toyota drivers missed the top ten altogether, a deliberate shift by the manufacturer to prioritize race‑day handling over pure qualifying speed. This strategic call could reshape the competitive landscape when the 260‑lap, 400.4‑mile battle gets underway.

Full Starting Grid

• Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
• Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
• Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
• Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
• Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
• Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
• Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
• Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
• Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
• Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
• Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
• Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
• Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
• Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
• Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
• William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
• Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
• Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
• Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet
• Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
• Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
• BJ McLeod, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
• Chad Finchum, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford

Race Day Logistics

The Quaker State 400 will see the green flag at roughly 6:15 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 12. EchoPark Speedway spans 1.54 miles, hosting a 260‑lap contest that totals 400.4 miles. The race is divided into three stages: 60 laps, 100 laps, and another 100 laps.

Broadcasters have set TNT as the national TV home, while streaming options include HBO MAX for the full broadcast plus in‑car cameras (subscription needed). For those who prefer audio coverage, PRN will carry the race on 102.5‑FM in Nashville, with additional feeds on NASCAR.com and SiriusXM Channel 90.

With Blaney on pole, fans can expect a fresh battle for the checkered flag, and the strategic choices of teams like Toyota will add an extra layer of intrigue to this pivotal race of the 2026 season.