By AMANDA VINCENT
Ryan Preece recorded a 22.244-second/221.381 mph lap in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Richmond (Va.) Raceway on Friday to claim the pole for Saturday night’s Cook Out 400. It’s Preece’s second-career Cup Series pole, his first of the 2025 season.
“That was great adjustments by Derrick Finley (crew chief),” Preece told truTV. “What a race car.”
Tyler Reddick qualified second to start alongside Preece on the front row Saturday.
A.J. Allmendinger qualified third, Denny Hamlin fourth and Chase Elliott fifth.
Kyle Busch was fastest in practice. He turned in the fastest single lap and had the fastest 10-consecutive lap average in the session. But in qualifying, he wound up 28th.
Three-time and reigning series champion Joey Logano crashed in practice. Still, he attempted to qualify. But after smoke from a left-front tire rub, he aborted the attempt before completing the lap. As a result, Logano garnered the 38th, and last, starting spot.
