McDowell Takes Pole; Bell Penalized for Adjustment

Michael McDowell secured Spire Motorsports' first NASCAR Cup Series pole position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a lap speed of 186.961 mph, marking his seventh career pole since the 2024 season. Despite McDowell's impressive achievement, Christopher Bell will start from the back due to an unapproved throttle body adjustment as he aims to win his fourth consecutive race. Joey Logano will join McDowell on the front row, followed by Austin Cindric and Kyle Busch. This strong start highlights McDowell's growth and Spire Motorsports' dedication, as McDowell reflects on his career journey from go-karting in Las Vegas to stock cars. The Pennzoil 400 will see fierce competition with notable drivers like Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, and defending winner Kyle Larson among the top qualifiers. The race is set to begin on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.