The Aporia · Ryan Blaney wins pole at Phoenix Raceway while NASCAR postseason leader Kyle Larson to start 22nd

Ryan Blaney wins pole at Phoenix Raceway while NASCAR postseason leader Kyle Larson to start 22nd

Read the original at Toronto Star ↗

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APA MLA Chicago

Brandt, D. (2026, October 17). Ryan Blaney wins pole at Phoenix Raceway while NASCAR postseason leader Kyle Larson to start 22nd. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/auto-racing/ryan-blaney-wins-pole-at-phoenix-raceway-while-nascar-postseason-leader-kyle-larson-to-start-22nd/article_924a4d97-761b-5e9f-9f5d-4f1334d65654.html

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Quick Summary

Ryan Blaney secured the pole position at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday with a lap of 26.250 seconds, slightly faster than Joey Logano’s second-place time by 0.032 seconds. Blaney aims to leverage this advantage for stage points and climb in the playoff standings. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, currently leading the NASCAR playoffs, struggled during qualifying, starting 22nd which raises concerns about his ability to maintain his lead as he is 49 points ahead of Denny Hamlin with four races left.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-18, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

Story summary

Ryan Blaney secured the pole position at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, putting him in a strong starting position for NASCAR’s postseason. Blaney’s Ford topped 137 miles per hour to edge out his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano by 0.032 seconds. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, who leads the playoffs with 49 points over second-place Denny Hamlin, qualified an unexpectedly poor 22nd place, raising questions about his ability to maintain his current lead in the final four races of the season. Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, and Hamlin rounded out the top five qualifiers under cooler and cloudier conditions than anticipated at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.

Written for “Nascar Pole Position Winner” on 2026-10-18, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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David Brandt

24 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

🔮 Now Larson heads to a track where he’s had consistent success — even though he views Phoenix Raceway with more trepidation than one might expect.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Briscoe has momentum, but Larson holds commanding lead in NASCAR playoffs entering Phoenix race

🔮 Just days after Ishbia bought the Suns for $4 billion in 2023, the organization dealt for Durant in a blockbuster trade that the owner hoped would lead to a championship.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Rockets' Kevin Durant, Suns owner Mat Ishbia spar on social media over Durant's time in Phoenix

🔮 “The recently unsealed documents demonstrate two unfortunate, but unsurprising, realities,” attorney Michael J. Willemin wrote in a statement.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Recently unsealed report on coach Brian Flores contains 'racial stereotypes,' according to lawyers

🔮 It’s fair to wonder if others in the organization could soon be following the former No. 4 overall pick out the door.

2026-10-13 · assertive framing · Marvin Harrison Jr.'s tenure with the Cardinals is done. Others might follow out the door

🔮 Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, a person with knowledge of the situation said Saturday, as trade rumors swirl around the former No. 4 overall pick.

2026-10-10 · assertive framing · Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. will be inactive vs. Lions, AP source says as trade rumors swirl

🔮 LaFleur said Johnson (biceps) would have surgery soon so he can begin the recovery process.

2026-10-06 · assertive framing · Cardinals try to stave off frustration after 3-game losing streak

🔮 First-year coach Mike LaFleur said Monday that Johnson would have surgery soon so he can begin his recovery.

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. out for season after tearing left biceps

🔮 Arizona State has asked a former chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court to lead an independent review of the collapse of hockey player Matthew Mayich during an outdoor workout in August.

2026-10-03 · assertive framing · Arizona State asks former state chief justice to lead independent review of Canadian hockey player's collapse

🔮 Sweat missed most of preseason camp while nursing a knee injury, so maybe it’s just a slow start, but the defense needs his 2025 version on the field.

2026-09-28 · assertive framing · The Arizona Cardinals of 2026 looked a little like the 2025 version on Sunday. That's not good

🔮 The owner of the Phoenix Suns said Monday that will have “zero” effect on his spending habits when it comes to basketball.

2026-09-28 · assertive framing · Suns owner Mat Ishbia says mortgage company woes will have no effect on basketball

Also by David Brandt

Rockets' Kevin Durant, Suns owner Mat Ishbia spar on social media over Durant's time in Phoenix

2026-10-17 · Toronto Star

Briscoe has momentum, but Larson holds commanding lead in NASCAR playoffs entering Phoenix race

2026-10-17 · Toronto Star

Recently unsealed report on coach Brian Flores contains 'racial stereotypes,' according to lawyers

2026-10-13 · Toronto Star

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s tenure with the Cardinals is done. Others might follow out the door

2026-10-13 · Toronto Star

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 24 articles by David Brandt →

Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ryan Blaney took the pole at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, putting him in good position to make a move up the standings in NASCAR’s postseason. asserted

Blaney → take → postseason

Blaney — who is trying to win his third straight race in the desert and is currently fifth in the playoff standings — covered the mile tri-oval in 26.250 seconds, edging Team Penske teammate Joey Logano by 0.032 seconds. asserted

who → try → seconds

His No. 12 Ford was the only car to top 137 miles per hour for his lap. asserted

Ford → top → lap

“It’s big to start the race up towards the front and try to get some stage points and stuff like that,” Blaney said. asserted

Blaney → ’ → that

It’s really, really important. asserted

It → ’ → ?

Job No. 1 done today, so I’m proud of everybody for doing a good job and taking that first step and then a whole new challenge tomorrow.” asserted

I → do → step

Kyle Larson qualified a disappointing 22nd, calling into question whether he can keep up his stellar run of races that has given him a commanding lead in NASCAR’s playoffs. Larson goes into Sunday’s race 49 points ahead of second-place Denny Hamlin with four races remaining. asserted

Larson → qualify → races

Chase Briscoe qualified third, Hamlin was fourth and Christopher Bell was fifth in cooler and cloudier conditions than expected. asserted

Bell → qualify → conditions

Briscoe has won the past two races in Las Vegas and Charlotte to vault to fourth in the Chase standings. asserted

Briscoe → win → standings

Ryan Blaney wins pole at Phoenix Raceway while NASCAR postseason leader Kyle Larson to start 22nd

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Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)