If the Fords are as fast in race trim as they were for qualifying for the Overton’s 400, Sunday could be a long one for Chevy and Toyota drivers at Chicagoland.
Paul Menard might be the most visibly happy driver in the NASCAR Cup Series garage most weeks, as he has a pretty reserved personality. But he was all smiles after claiming the Busch Pole Award for the Overton’s 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, and plenty of his fellow Ford drivers should be happy too.
Fords claimed six of the top seven spots in the starting grid for Sunday’s race, with only Chase Elliott’s Chevy placing a very respectable third to keep them from a clean sweep. Ryan Blaney will join Menard in Row 1, with three of the four Stewart-Haas Racing cars in positions four through six and Brad Keselowski in seventh.
Erik Jones was the highest qualifier among Toyota drivers and will start ninth, with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Danie Suarez beside him. As for the Big 3, Kevin Harvick will roll off 11th, Kyle Busch will start 16th and Martin Truex Jr. will have to come all the way from 36th if he wants to claim his fourth Cup Series victory of the 2018 season.
Of course he might be able to do just that, considering he’s won this race each of the last two years. If he does, it will give Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will make his NASCAR on NBC race analyst debut, plenty to talk about.
Next: Are midweek NASCAR races on the way soon?
Coverage of the Overton’s 400 is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with the green flag expected around 2:46 p.m.
2018 Overton’s 400 starting grid for Chicagoland Speedway
- Paul Menard – No. 21 Menards/Sylvania Ford
- Ryan Blaney – No. 12 PPG Ford
- Chase Elliott – No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
- Kurt Busch – No. 41 Haas Automation Ford
- Clint Bowyer – No. 14 Wix Filters Ford
- Aric Almirola – No. 10 Smithfield Ford
- Brad Keselowski – No. 2 Stars, Stripes and Lites Ford
- William Byron – No. 24 Unifirst Chevrolet
- Erik Jones – No. 20 DeWalt Toyota
- Daniel Suarez – No. 19 Peak Toyota
- Kevin Harvick – No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford
- Joey Logano – No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford
- Jamie McMurray – No. 1 McDonald’s/Cessna Chevrolet
- Austin Dillon – No. 3 Dow Intellifresh Chevrolet
- Alex Bowman – No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet
- Kyle Busch – No. 18 Skittles Red, White & Blue Toyota
- Ryan Newman – No. 31 TBD Chevrolet
- Kyle Larson – No. 42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet
- AJ Allmendinger – No. 47 Kroger Click List Chevrolet
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – No. 17 Fastenal Ford
- Trevor Bayne – No. 6 AdvoCare Rehydrate Ford
- Bubba Wallace – No. 43 Jewel-Osco Chevrolet
- David Ragan – No. 38 TBD Ford
- Kasey Kahne – No. 95 Thorne Wellness Chevrolet
- Ty Dillon – No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet
- Michael McDowell – No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford
- Ross Chastain – No. 15 Low T Centers Chevrolet
- Matt DiBenedetto – No. 32 Anest Iwata Ford
- Gray Gaulding – No. 23 BK Racing Toyota
- Kyle Weatherman – No. 99 TBA Chevrolet
- Landon Cassill – No. 00 TBA Chevrolet
- Corey LaJoie – No. 72 TBA Chevrolet
- B.J. McLeod – No. 51 TBA Ford
- Reed Sorensen – No. 7 TBA Chevrolet
- Timmy Hill – No. 66 CrashClaimsR.Us Toyota
- Martin Truex Jr. – No. 78 5-hour Energy/Bass Pro Shops Toyota
- Denny Hamlin – No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota
- Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher – No. 37 Kleenex Wet Wipes Chevrolet