Toyota Dominates Cup Qualifying at Las Vegas

Christopher Bell takes pole position as Toyota sweeps top-4 starting spots

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:36pm

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In qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Toyota drivers swept the top four starting positions, led by pole sitter Christopher Bell. Bell secured his 15th career Cup Series pole with a lap of 28.853 seconds (187.156 mph), edging out Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs for the top spot.

Why it matters

Toyota's dominance in qualifying underscores their strong start to the 2026 NASCAR season. With the top four qualifiers all driving Toyotas, the manufacturer is poised to have a strong showing in Sunday's race as they look to continue their momentum.

The details

Christopher Bell, driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, claimed the pole position, followed by his teammates Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 car and Ty Gibbs in the No. 54 car. Bubba Wallace rounded out the Toyota sweep in the fourth position. Two-time defending champion Kyle Larson qualified fifth, while other top drivers like Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and William Byron filled out the top 10.

  • Christopher Bell set the fastest lap in qualifying on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Christopher Bell

A 31-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing who secured his 15th career NASCAR Cup Series pole position.

Denny Hamlin

A 60-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner who drives the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry.

Ty Gibbs

The driver of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry, who has had his name mentioned in a lawsuit involving the team.

Bubba Wallace

The driver of the No. 23 Toyota who is currently third in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship standings.

Kyle Larson

The two-time and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion who qualified fifth for the race.

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What’s next

The NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, and will be televised on FS1 with television coverage set to kick off at 4:00 PM ET.

The takeaway

Toyota's dominant performance in qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway sets them up for a strong showing in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race as they look to continue their early-season momentum.