So far this year, NASCAR Chevy teams have claimed every single victory in the 2023 Cup Series season, but if The Bow Tie wants to continue its dominance, the Camaro ZL1 racers will have a bit of ground to make up at Atlanta Motor Speedway. While the best Chevy team is starting ninth, he’s going to have to chase a lot of Ford Mustang taillights to get to the front.
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 NASCAR Chevy Camaro, posted a time of 31.462 seconds at 176.213 mph, good enough to place him in the ninth starting position at Atlanta. For comparison, Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Ford Mustang, set the pole with a time of 31.256 seconds at 177.374 mph, while the second-place starter, Austin Cindric, threw the No. 2 Mustang around Atlanta in 31.262 seconds at 177.34 mph. Fords will start in the next six positions, leaving Larson’s No. 5 Camaro as the only Chevy to start within the top 10.
It’s worth noting that Larson’s No. 5 Camaro was one of five NASCAR Chevy teams hit with hefty penalties this week. Last weekend at Phoenix, NASCAR seized the hood louvres from Larson’s No. 5 Camaro; Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Camaro; William Byron’s No. 24 Camaro; Josh Berry’s No. 9 Camaro and Justin Haley’s No. 31 Camaro. Each team was found to have unapproved modifications to a single-source part, and were assessed fines and points deductions as a result.
Additionally, the No. 8 NASCAR Chevy of Kyle Busch will race without its regular car chief this weekend, as the race car failed pre-qualifying inspection twice. He has also lost pit stall selection. NASCAR did not disclose why Busch’s No. 8 Camaro did not pass inspection. He will start 17th.
The green flag at Atlanta will drop at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 19th, 2023.
Pos | Car Number | Driver | Team | Time | Speed | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Autotrader Ford | 31.256 | 177.374 | Ford Mustang |
2 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Menards/Knauf Ford | 31.262 | 177.34 | Ford Mustang |
3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | BodyArmor Smart Water Ford | 31.284 | 177.215 | Ford Mustang |
4 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | King's Hawaiian Ford | 31.323 | 176.995 | Ford Mustang |
5 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Smithfield Ford | 31.324 | 176.989 | Ford Mustang |
6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Busch Light Ford | 31.363 | 176.769 | Ford Mustang |
7 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Violet Defense Ford | 31.367 | 176.746 | Ford Mustang |
8 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | HighPoint.com Ford | 31.396 | 176.583 | Ford Mustang |
9 | 5 | Kyle Larson | HendrickCars.com Chevrolet | 31.462 | 176.213 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
10 | 20 | Christopher Bell | DeWalt Toyota | 0 | 0 | Toyota TRD Camry |
11 | 24 | William Byron | Liberty University Chevrolet | 31.544 | 175.755 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
12 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Fr8Auctions.com Ford | 31.545 | 175.749 | Ford Mustang |
13 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Andy's Frozen Custard Chevrolet | 31.548 | 175.732 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Shingrix Toyota | 31.554 | 175.699 | Toyota TRD Camry |
15 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Ally Chevrolet | 31.554 | 175.699 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
16 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | Xfinity 10G Network Toyota | 31.574 | 175.588 | Toyota TRD Camry |
17 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Lenovo Chevrolet | 31.583 | 175.537 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
18 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Advent Health Chevrolet | 31.597 | 175.46 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
19 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | DoorDash Toyota | 31.636 | 175.243 | Toyota TRD Camry |
20 | 31 | Justin Haley | LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet | 31.642 | 175.21 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
21 | 9 | Josh Berry(i) | NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet | 31.662 | 175.099 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
22 | 42 | Noah Gragson # | Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet | 31.68 | 175 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
23 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Gary Martin Hays Ford | 31.696 | 174.912 | Ford Mustang |
24 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford | 31.801 | 174.334 | Ford Mustang |
25 | 99 | Daniel Suarez | Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet | 31.835 | 174.148 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
26 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Ferris Commercial Mowers Chevrolet | 31.835 | 174.148 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
27 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Kroger/Nature Valley Chevrolet | 31.837 | 174.137 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
28 | 43 | Erik Jones | Allegiant Chevrolet | 31.853 | 174.05 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
29 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Bass Pro Shops Toyota | 31.859 | 174.017 | Toyota TRD Camry |
30 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | Action Industries Chevrolet | 31.939 | 173.581 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
31 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Celsius Chevrolet | 31.945 | 173.548 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
32 | 51 | Cody Ware | Biohaven/Jacob Co. Ford | 32.064 | 172.904 | Ford Mustang |
33 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford | 32.34 | 171.429 | Ford Mustang |
34 | 15 | JJ Yeley(i) | Barnett Southern Corporation Ford | 32.559 | 170.275 | Ford Mustang |
35 | 54 | Ty Gibbs # | Monster Energy Toyota | 34.582 | 160.315 | Toyota TRD Camry |
36 | 78 | BJ McLeod | B'laster Chevrolet | 0 | 0 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 |
# – Rookie
i – Points ineligible
* – Part-time driver
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Comment
Naaaaaaaa, not a bad thing at all, wait till the flag flies and they get in a pack. Them chevies got more downforce they will work there way to the front. How did vegas go for them fords? Qualified good then dropped to the back.