Team Penske Dominates Atlanta Qualifying with Blaney and Logano Front Row

Ryan Blaney delivered a standout performance in qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400, claiming the pole position at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, while teammate Joey Logano completed a Team Penske front-row sweep by securing second place. The result underscored Team Penske’s dominance ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated night race.

Blaney clocked the fastest lap of the session with a speed of 179.912 mph (30.815 seconds) around the 1.54-mile high-banked oval, narrowly edging Logano, who posted a lap of 179.702 mph (30.851 seconds), just 0.016 seconds slower. It marked Blaney’s second pole position of the 2026 season and the 14th of his NASCAR Cup Series career.

Speaking after qualifying, Blaney praised the team’s performance and welcomed the opportunity to start alongside his teammate.

“Feels good to have a Penske front row,” Blaney said, expressing confidence that the Ford drivers could work together during the early stages of the race while acknowledging that superspeedway-style racing can quickly change the running order.

The front-row lockout is especially significant for Logano, whose difficult season has left him outside the provisional playoff positions. A strong result in Atlanta could provide a major boost to the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion as he continues his push for a place in the postseason.

Behind the Penske duo, Kyle Larson qualified third for Hendrick Motorsports, while Austin Dillon secured fourth for Richard Childress Racing. Daniel Suárez completed the top five, with Alex Bowman, defending Atlanta winner Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, and Brad Keselowski rounding out the top ten.

One of the biggest surprises in qualifying was the disappointing performance by Toyota. Championship leader Denny Hamlin qualified only 28th, while title rival Tyler Reddick will start 31st. Other Toyota drivers, including Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs, also failed to reach the final round of qualifying, continuing the manufacturer’s struggles over a single lap on drafting tracks despite its strong race pace this season.

Blaney, however, warned against underestimating the Toyota teams, noting that they have often been more competitive during races than in qualifying. He pointed to their strong showing at the spring event at EchoPark Speedway, where Toyota drivers charged through the field despite modest starting positions.

With Team Penske occupying the front row and several championship contenders starting deeper in the field, Sunday’s Quaker State 400 promises to deliver another unpredictable battle at one of NASCAR’s fastest and most competitive tracks. Fans will be watching to see whether Blaney can convert pole position into victory or whether Atlanta’s drafting-style racing produces another dramatic finish.