Bobby Travis · NASCAR/IndyCar Correspondent
Ahead of the Enjoy Illinois 300, Joey Logano secured pole position, while Ryan Blaney posted the fastest time in final practice, setting up a tight battle heading into the second race of the first playoff round.
On Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, final practice and qualifying took place for the Enjoy Illinois 300, the second of three races in the first playoff round, the Round of 16. It was already clear how competitive things would be on the tight 1.25-mile oval.
Logano Dominates Qualifying
Joey Logano in the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske dominated qualifying with a lap time of 32.817 seconds, securing pole position. Kyle Larson in the Hendrick Chevrolet and Ryan Blaney in the second Penske Ford followed in second and third, ahead of Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe from Joe Gibbs Racing, who completed the top five.
Blaney Sets the Pace in Practice
In the preceding final practice session, another driver held the fastest time: Blaney in the No. 12 Ford posted the day’s best lap in 33.170 seconds, just ahead of Logano and Josh Berry in the Wood Brothers Ford. Connor Zilisch and Tyler Reddick completed the top five in practice. Blaney’s dominance in both practice and qualifying on the front row underscores the strong pace that Team Penske is showing this weekend.
Green Flag Sunday Afternoon
The race itself starts Sunday at 3 p.m. local time (10 p.m. CEST) and will run 240 laps, or 300 miles. Whether Logano can convert his pole position into his first win of the season or if Blaney’s raw racing pace and Team Penske’s speed prevails will be decided in the race itself.
