NASCAR playoffs at Atlanta starting lineup: Michael McDowell ties Cup-high mark with fifth pole of 2024

McDowell is now tied for the most poles in 2024 after never having one prior to this season

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Michael McDowell won the pole for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in qualifying on Saturday afternoon. McDowell posted a lap of 30.926 (179.261 MPH) in the final round of qualifying to earn his fifth pole of the 2024 season and sweep the pole positions for both Atlanta races this year. After going 466 Cup starts without winning a pole prior to Atlanta's first race of the year in February, McDowell has now won five poles this year at Atlanta, Talladega, Gateway and Daytona, tying him for the most in Cup with Kyle Larson.

McDowell leads a Ford sweep of the top five qualifying spots, which includes two playoff drivers in defending Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney on the outside pole and Austin Cindric in fifth. Larson was the fastest Chevrolet in sixth, while Ty GIbbs was the fastest Toyota in 20th.

The biggest development among the playoff drivers in qualifying was issues for Denny Hamlin, who suffered a mechanical issue on his qualifying lap that led to him running a 33.065 (167.670 MPH), slowest of all cars to qualify and nearly two seconds off the pace. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Hamlin said that there was an issue with the powertrain that his Joe Gibbs Racing crew will try to fix overnight.

Cause for concern? Denny Hamlin's qualifying run is nearly two seconds off the pace. 😳

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— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 7, 2024

Among the other playoff drivers throughout the field included Joey Logano in seventh, William Byron in ninth, Chase Briscoe 10th, Alex Bowman 11th, Chase Elliott 16th, Brad Keselowski 19th, Martin Truex Jr. 22nd, regular season champion Tyler Reddick 23rd, Christopher Bell 26th and Daniel Suarez, who won at Atlanta in February, 30th.

Quaker State 400 starting lineup

1. #34 - Michael McDowell
2. #12 - Ryan Blaney
3. #38 - Todd Gilliland
4. #4 - Josh Berry (R)
5. #2 - Austin Cindric
6. #5 - Kyle Larson
7. #22 - Joey Logano
8. #3 - Austin Dillon
9. #24 - William Byron
10. #14 - Chase Briscoe
11. #48 - Alex Bowman
12. #21 - Harrison Burton
13. #10 - Noah Gragson
14. #31 - Daniel Hemric
15. #8 - Kyle Busch
16. #9 - Chase Elliott
17. #17 - Chris Buescher
18. #1 - Ross Chastain
19. #6 - Brad Keselowski
20. #54 - Ty Gibbs
21. #41 - Ryan Preece
22. #19 - Martin Truex Jr.
23. #45 - Tyler Reddick
24. #23 - Bubba Wallace
25. #7 - Corey LaJoie
26. #20 - Christopher Bell
27. #47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
28. #16 - Shane van Gisbergen
29. #51 - Justin Haley
    
30. #99 - Daniel Suarez
31. #15 - Cody Ware
32. #77 - Carson Hocevar (R)
33. #43 - Erik Jones
34. #71 - Zane Smith (R)
35. #42 - John Hunter Nemechek
36. #78 - B.J. McLeod
37. #44 - J.J. Yeley
38. #11 - Denny Hamlin