NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500: Qualifying, Michael McDowell’s Pole Position, Lineup At Talladega Superspeedway

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published2 hours ago on October 05, 2024

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NASCAR: Go Bowling at The Glen

Wonder what the pre-season sports betting odds would have been on driver Michael McDowell earning six pole positions through 31 NASCAR Cup Series races this season? 

That would have been an interesting wager, considering he went 466 Cup starts without earning one pole. 

For the sixth time this season, McDowell on Saturday earned the right to start on the inside of the front row for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway by turning a hot qualifying lap of 183.063 mph. McDowell has swept pole positions at Talladega and Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

“It’s hard to come down and get the pole,” McDowell told NBC Sports. “We came in here with a plan. I’m really proud.
“We’ve been laser-focused.” 

The 17-year veteran edged runner-up Austin Cindric by 0.183 seconds. Todd Gilliland (182.258 mph) and Kyle Busch (181.863) are slated to fill out the second row. 

Sunday’s race will be the second of three Round of 8 races.  

Entering the YellaWood 500, Tyler Reddick, who won the sprint event at Talladega, begins four points behind Joey Logano and Chase Elliott on the cutoff line. 

At plus-34, William Byron, who will start P16, leads the playoff field, followed by reigning series champion Ryan Blaney (+28), who will begin P5. 

2 Organizations Sue NASCAR Cup Series 

Two leading franchises on Wednesday filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR Cup Series and chairman Jim France. 

Following nearly two years of negotiations, the National Association for Stock Scar Auto Racing and the 15 charter organizations, the Michael Jordan co-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed suit, claiming unfair business practices. 

The suit, filed in the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte, N.C., alleges that NASCAR unfairly connects the teams to the series, including its suppliers and racing venues. 

“The France family and NASCAR are monopolistic bullies,” the teams said in the lawsuit, according to The Associated Press. “And bullies will continue to impose their will to hurt others until their targets stand up and refuse to be victims. That moment has now arrived.” 

Jordan told ESPN: “The way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors and fans.” 

Starting Lineup for NASCAR Cup Series’ YellaWood 500   

Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway:   

Starting Position, Driver, Car No., Team

  • 1, Michael McDowell, 34, Front Row Motorsports 
  • 2, Austin Cindric, 2, Team Penske  
  • 3, Todd Gilliland, 38, Front Row Motorsports  
  • 4, Kyle Busch, 8, Richard Childress Racing 
  • 5, Ryan Blaney, 12, Team Penske 
  • 6, Joey Logano, 22, Team Penske 
  • 7, Austin Dillon, 3, Richard Childress Racing 
  • 8, Denny Hamlin, 11, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 9, Harrison Burton, 21, Wood Brothers Racing 
  • 10, Daniel Hemric, 31, Kaulig Racing 
  • 11, Chase Elliott, 9, Hendrick Motorsports 
  • 12, Kyle Larson, 5, Hendrick Motorsports 
  • 13, Brad Keselowski, 6, RFK Racing 
  • 14, Tyler Reddick, 45, 23XI Racing 
  • 15, Ty Gibbs, 54, Joe Gibbs Racing  
  • 16, William Byron, 24, Hendrick Motorsports 
  • 17, Shane van Gisbergen, 16, Kaulig Racing 
  • 18, Ryan Preece, 41, Stewart-Haas Racing  
  • 19, Josh Berry, 4, Stewart-Haas Racing 
  • 20, Chris Buescher, 17, RFK Racing 
  • 21, Christopher Bell, 20, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 22, Noah Gragson, 10, Stewart-Haas Racing 
  • 23, Alex Bowman, 48, Hendrick Motorsports 
  • 24, Martin Truex Jr., 19, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 25, AJ Allmendinger, 13, Kaulig Racing 
  • 26, Bubba Wallace, 23, 23XI Racing 
  • 27, Ross Chastain, 1, Trackhouse Racing 
  • 28, Corey LaJoie, 51, Rick Ware Racing 
  • 29, John Hunter Nemechek, 42, Legacy Motor Club 
  • 30, Erik Jones, 43, Legacy Motor Club 
  • 31, Daniel Suarez, 99, Trackhouse Racing 
  • 32, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 47, JTG Daugherty Racing 
  • 33, Anthony Alfredo, 62, Beard Motorsports 
  • 34, Cody Ware, 15, Rick Ware Racing 
  • 35, Justin Haley, 7, Spire Motorsports 
  • 36, Chase Briscoe, 14, Stewart-Haas Racing 
  • 37, Justin Haley, 7, Spire Motorsports 
  • 38, BJ McLeod, 78, Live Fast Motorsports 
  • 39, Zane Smith, 71, Spire Motorsports 
  • 40, JJ Yeley, 44, NY Racing Team