NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 400: Qualifying, Alex Bowman’s Pole Position, Lineup At Homestead-Miami Speedway

Author photo
By
Jeff Hawkins
Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Get to know Jeff Hawkins better
Sports Editor

Published22 Mar 2025

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. While our content features sponsored links, from which we may earn a commission, this does not influence our recommendations.
cup alex bowman wins homestead spring pole (1)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman may have secured Sunday’s pole position at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but the runner-up may have made the biggest statement. 

Coming off his first circuit win last week, Josh Berry registered the second-quickest qualifying time Saturday for the Straight Talk Wireless 400. 

Berry will start on the outside of the front row Sunday, next to Bowman, whose hot lap was registered at 168.845 mph.  

Bowman will start on the inside of the front row for the sixth time in his career. He has at least one pole in three consecutive seasons. 

In his first three outings this season, Berry’s average finish was 29.33. In his past three events, his average start has been fourth and he earned back-to-back top-five finishes for the first time in his four-year career. 

In five Cup starts, Bowman has secured four top 10s, including consecutive P7s. 

Noah Gragson’s Pit-Crew Team Left Shorthanded 

Driver Noah Gragson’s pit-row team staged tryouts this week after two of its members departed to Chase Briscoe’s unit. 

Jackman Nathan McBride and rear changer Adam Riley were transferred to Joe Gibbs Racing’s organization. Gragson was informed during the offseason of the possibility of losing in-season team members. Front Row Motorsports does not employ an internal pit crew. It depends on leasing members from other organizations. 

Gragson’s teammates, Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith and Cody Ware, work under similar conditions.

 NASCAR Cup Series’ Straight Talk Wireless 400 Starting Lineup

Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway:   

Starting Position, Driver, Car No.

  • 1, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet 
  • 2, Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford 
  • 3, Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford 
  • 4, Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota 
  • 5, William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet 
  • 6, Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford 
  • 7, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota 
  • 8, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford 
  • 9, Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota 
  • 10, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet 
  • 11, Chris Buescher, No. 17 Chevrolet 
  • 12, Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford 
  • 13, Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota 
  • 14, Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet 
  • 15, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet 
  • 16, Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota 
  • 17, Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford 
  • 18, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet 
  • 19, Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota  
  • 20, Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet 
  • 21, Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota 
  • 22, Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet 
  • 23, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota 
  • 24, Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford 
  • 25, Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet 
  • 26, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47  
  • 27, Micheal McDowell, No. 71  
  • 28, Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota 
  • 29, Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Chevrolet 
  • 30, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet 
  • 31, Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford 
  • 32, Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford 
  • 33, Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet 
  • 34, Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet  
  • 35, Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88  
  • 36, Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford  
  • 37, JJ Yeley, No. 44 Chevrolet