NASCAR lineup at Michigan: Starting order, pole for 2026 FireKeepers Casino 400 based on qualifying results originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cup Series’ fiercest and finest racers roll into Michigan International Speedway for the next test on NASCAR’s slate, the FireKeepers Casino 400.
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Toyota showed out in Saturday’s qualifying session, with four of the top-five performers dancing around the track.
Unfortunately for one of those talents, he won’t be rewarded for his efforts.
With that, here’s a look at the pole-sitter and starting lineup for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400.
MORE: NASCAR standings for the 2026 Cup Series
Who won the FireKeepers Casino 400 pole for 2026?
Qualifying for the FireKeepers 400 took place on Saturday. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin took home the pole after a scorching showing on the track, dancing to the front of the field with a lap time of 36.901 seconds, a smidge faster than second-place Carson Hocevar.
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Despite his performance during Saturday’s run, Hamlin will drop to the back, having suffered damage underneath his car during his run. He’ll undergo treatment for his vehicle, rendering him the last place car at the start of Sunday’s run. Hocevar, meanwhile, will move into first.
FireKeepers Casino 400 starting lineup 2026
|
Starting pos. |
Driver |
Car No. |
Team |
|
1. |
Denny Hamlin |
11 |
Toyota |
|
2. |
Carson Hocevar |
77 |
Chevrolet |
|
3. |
Tyler Reddick |
45 |
Toyota |
|
4. |
Ty Gibbs |
54 |
Toyota |
|
5. |
Chase Briscoe |
19 |
Toyota |
|
6. |
Chase Elliott |
9 |
Chevrolet |
|
7. |
Kyle Larson |
5 |
Chevrolet |
|
8. |
Christopher Bell |
20 |
Toyota |
|
9. |
William Byron |
24 |
Chevrolet |
|
10. |
Erik Jones |
43 |
Toyota |
|
11. |
Daniel Suarez |
7 |
Chevrolet |
|
12. |
Riley Herbst |
35 |
Toyota |
|
13. |
Bubba Wallace |
23 |
Toyota |
|
14. |
Chris Buescher |
17 |
Ford |
|
15. |
Cole Custer |
41 |
Chevrolet |
|
16. |
Zane Smith |
38 |
Ford |
|
17. |
John Hunter Nemechek |
42 |
Toyota |
|
18. |
Joey Logano |
22 |
Toyota |
|
19. |
Ryan Blaney |
12 |
Ford |
|
20. |
Michael McDowell |
71 |
Chevrolet |
|
21. |
Austin Dillon |
3 |
Chevrolet |
|
22. |
Noah Gragson |
4 |
Ford |
|
23. |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
47 |
Chevrolet |
|
24. |
Ty Dillon |
10 |
Chevrolet |
|
25. |
AJ Allmendinger |
16 |
Chevrolet |
|
26. |
Brad Keselowski |
6 |
Ford |
|
27. |
Ryan Preece |
60 |
Ford |
|
28. |
Austin Hill |
33 |
Chevrolet |
|
29. |
Alex Bowman |
48 |
Chevrolet |
|
30. |
Shane van Gisbergen |
97 |
Chevrolet |
|
31. |
Austin Cindric |
2 |
Ford |
|
32. |
Ross Chastain |
1 |
Chevrolet |
|
33. |
Cody Ware |
51 |
Chevrolet |
|
34. |
Connor Zilisch |
88 |
Chevrolet |
|
35. |
Todd Gilliland |
34 |
Ford |
|
36. |
JJ Yeley |
44 |
Chevrolet |
|
37. |
Josh Berry |
21 |
Ford |
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