---
title: "Larson starts 22nd as NASCAR title rivals lock out Phoenix top five"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2026/10/18/kyle-larson-22nd-nascar-phoenix-qualifying/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "NASCAR"
published: "2026-10-18T13:00:00Z"
modified: "2026-10-18T13:00:00Z"
---

# Larson starts 22nd as NASCAR title rivals lock out Phoenix top five

**Kyle Larson will start only 22nd at Phoenix Raceway after his five closest NASCAR Cup Series title rivals filled the first five places in qualifying.**

Ryan Blaney took pole with a lap of 137.143mph and will share the front row with Team Penske team-mate Joey Logano. Chase Briscoe qualified third ahead of Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell. Larson heads into Sunday’s race with a 49-point championship lead over Hamlin, but qualifying has given the chasing group an early opportunity to reduce that advantage with four races remaining.

## Larson struggles as Blaney takes pole

Bell is 51 points behind Larson, with Briscoe 65 adrift. Blaney trails by 85 points and Logano by 92, leaving both Penske drivers needing big results over the closing races. Blaney’s form at Phoenix gives him reason for optimism. The 2023 Cup champion has won the past two races at the circuit and was also fastest in practice before taking his fifth pole of the season.

“It’s really, really important, just from our side, to put yourself up toward the front early in the race, try to get some points early and try to keep track position,” Blaney said. Larson had a more difficult Saturday as he struggled with the balance of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet before qualifying on row 11.

Starting position has mattered at Phoenix in recent years. No winner of the past 18 Cup races at the circuit has started lower than 13th, with all but three coming from inside the top 10. Larson has otherwise been difficult for his rivals to catch during the Chase. His worst finish through the opening six races was sixth at Charlotte, giving him an average finish of 2.83.

Phoenix is the seventh race of the 10-round Chase, with Talladega and Martinsville to follow before the championship is decided at Homestead-Miami. Larson still has the points advantage, but he will start Sunday’s 312-lap race with Hamlin, Bell, Briscoe, Blaney and Logano all 17 or more places ahead of him.

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