In downtown Chicago, Shane van Gisbergen stands out as the dominant force on NASCAR’s street course. The New Zealander secured the pole position for Sunday’s Grant Park 165 with a strong lap at 88.338 mph on the challenging 2.2-mile track, battling high temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit during Saturday’s qualifying session.
Van Gisbergen expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting that while practice wasn’t ideal, his car felt great during the qualifying laps. Joining him on the front row is Michael McDowell, who clinched the second spot with a lap at 87.879 mph. Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, and Chase Briscoe completed the top five qualifiers.
McDowell, who has shown consistency with top-10 finishes in the previous downtown Chicago races, acknowledged the unpredictable weather conditions for Sunday’s race. Van Gisbergen, a seasoned champion in Australia’s Supercars, also claimed the pole position for the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, leveraging the experience to gain an advantage in the Cup Series competition.
Van Gisbergen’s success in NASCAR’s downtown Chicago races includes a historic win in challenging conditions two years ago. Despite setbacks in previous events, he remains a formidable contender in street course races. Katherine Legge made history by becoming the first woman to qualify for the Cup race in downtown Chicago, showcasing determination and resilience in securing a spot on the starting grid.
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