NASCAR lineup at Michigan: Starting order, pole for 2026 FireKeepers Casino 400 based on qualifying results

NASCAR lineup at Michigan: Starting order, pole for 2026 FireKeepers Casino 400 based on qualifying results originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Cup Series’ fiercest and finest racers roll into Michigan International Speedway for the next test on NASCAR’s slate, the FireKeepers Casino 400.

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.

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.DriverCar No.Team1.Denny Hamlin11Toyota2.Carson Hocevar77Chevrolet3.Tyler Reddick45Toyota4.Ty Gibbs54Toyota5.Chase Briscoe19Toyota6.Chase Elliott9Chevrolet7.Kyle Larson5Chevrolet8.Christopher Bell20Toyota9.William Byron24Chevrolet10.Erik Jones43Toyota11.Daniel Suarez7Chevrolet12.Riley Herbst35Toyota13.Bubba Wallace23Toyota14.Chris Buescher17Ford15.Cole Custer41Chevrolet16.Zane Smith38Ford17.John Hunter Nemechek42Toyota18.Joey Logano22Toyota19.Ryan Blaney12Ford20.Michael McDowell71Chevrolet21.Austin Dillon3Chevrolet22.Noah Gragson4Ford23.Ricky Stenhouse Jr.47Chevrolet24.Ty Dillon10Chevrolet25.AJ Allmendinger16Chevrolet26.Brad Keselowski6Ford27.Ryan Preece60Ford28.Austin Hill33Chevrolet29.Alex Bowman48Chevrolet30.Shane van Gisbergen97Chevrolet31.Austin Cindric2Ford32.Ross Chastain1Chevrolet33.Cody Ware51Chevrolet34.Connor Zilisch88Chevrolet35.Todd Gilliland34Ford36.JJ Yeley44Chevrolet37.Josh Berry21Ford