![\"Nashville](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SI202605220836-copy.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing teammate Connor Zilisch.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing teammate Connor Zilisch.<\/p>\n
Rain precluded competitors from qualifying, although practice will go ahead as planned at 7:40am AEST.<\/p>\n
The rain-out means Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin will start from pole position thanks to the qualifying metric.<\/p>\n
Fellow Toyota Camry driver Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing will start alongside Hamlin in second.<\/p>\n
The top 10 is completed by Daniel Suarez, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Joey Logano, and van Gisbergen.<\/p>\n
Speaking before qualifying was rained out, van Gisbergen said he was optimistic that performances like those at Charlotte could be repeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, firstly qualifying, obviously you\u2019re trying to get better. You need pure performance, but I struggle with that,\u201d van Gisbergen explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve come from a world where, in qualifying, you have two or three sets of tyres. You can kind of build up and get better as you go.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere, you practice and you have a lot of fall off at the end of practice. And then, you\u2019ve got to go qualify and you have one corner, basically, to feel what you\u2019ve got and you\u2019ve got to rip a lap that\u2019s two or three seconds quicker than what you\u2019ve finished on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just that switch, I\u2019m not quite there at getting it or judging what grip I\u2019m going to have yet. That will come with time and I feel like I\u2019m certainly getting closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut yeah, if you can place yourself in that front-half, you get out of that dogfight. Everyone\u2019s just fighting for everything they can get at the back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s where the good guys show their difference. When you see them drop back, they\u2019re so much better at getting through traffic, whereas I seem to find myself stuck there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got to work on my maneuverability, I guess, and work on getting through traffic better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking on the Trackhouse Racing\u2019s recent uptick in performance, van Gisbergen said there has been a noticeable shift in the team\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve had a little reset or a change in philosophy in some areas of our car,\u201d said van Gisbergen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started decent on our side, but the other guys have really battled. Now, I think there\u2019s more glimpses of pure performance, which is good, and we really needed that.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo yeah, we\u2019ve kind of battled a bit. It\u2019s good to flip things around and hopefully that continues because it\u2019s been difficult, all three of us, having our struggles at different times.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway gets underway at 9:00am AEST on Monday, June 1.<\/p>\n
Starting grid: NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400, Nashville Superspeedway<\/p>\n
Pos
\nNum
\nDriver
\nTeam<\/p>\n
1
\n11
\nDenny Hamlin
\nJoe Gibbs Racing<\/p>\n
2
\n45
\nTyler Reddick
\n23XI Racing<\/p>\n
3
\n7
\nDaniel Suarez
\nSpire Motorsports<\/p>\n
4
\n20
\nChristopher Bell
\nJoe Gibbs Racing<\/p>\n
5
\n5
\nKyle Larson
\nHendrick Motorsports<\/p>\n
6
\n54
\nTy Gibbs
\nJoe Gibbs Racing<\/p>\n
7
\n12
\nRyan Blaney
\nTeam Penske<\/p>\n
8
\n24
\nWilliam Byron
\nHendrick Motorsports<\/p>\n
9
\n22
\nJoey Logano
\nTeam Penske<\/p>\n
10
\n97
\nShane Van Gisbergen
\nTrackhouse Racing<\/p>\n
11
\n38
\nZane Smith
\nFront Row Motorsports<\/p>\n
12
\n6
\nBrad Keselowski
\nRFK Racing<\/p>\n
13
\n43
\nErik Jones
\nLegacy Motor Club<\/p>\n
14
\n71
\nMichael McDowell
\nSpire Motorsports<\/p>\n
15
\n47
\nRicky Stenhouse Jr.
\nHyak Motorsports<\/p>\n
16
\n16
\nAJ Allmendinger
\nKaulig Racing<\/p>\n
17
\n77
\nCarson Hocevar
\nSpire Motorsports<\/p>\n
18
\n23
\nBubba Wallace
\n23XI Racing<\/p>\n
19
\n48
\nAlex Bowman
\nHendrick Motorsports<\/p>\n
20
\n41
\nCole Custer
\nHaas Factory Team<\/p>\n
21
\n34
\nTodd Gilliland
\nFront Row Motorsports<\/p>\n
22
\n17
\nChris Buescher
\nRFK Racing<\/p>\n
23
\n35
\nRiley Herbst
\n23XI Racing<\/p>\n
24
\n67
\nCorey Heim(i)
\n23XI Racing<\/p>\n
25
\n33
\nAustin Hill(i)
\nRichard Childress Racing<\/p>\n
26
\n4
\nNoah Gragson
\nFront Row Motorsports<\/p>\n
27
\n42
\nJohn Hunter Nemechek
\nLegacy Motor Club<\/p>\n
28
\n60
\nRyan Preece
\nRFK Racing<\/p>\n
29
\n9
\nChase Elliott
\nHendrick Motorsports<\/p>\n
30
\n10
\nTy Dillon
\nKaulig Racing<\/p>\n
31
\n19
\nChase Briscoe
\nJoe Gibbs Racing<\/p>\n
32
\n3
\nAustin Dillon
\nRichard Childress Racing<\/p>\n
33
\n21
\nJosh Berry
\nWood Brothers Racing<\/p>\n
34
\n51
\nCody Ware
\nRick Ware Racing<\/p>\n
35
\n1
\nRoss Chastain
\nTrackhouse Racing<\/p>\n
36
\n2
\nAustin Cindric
\nTeam Penske<\/p>\n
37
\n66
\nChad Finchum(i)
\nGarage 66<\/p>\n
38
\n88
\nConnor Zilisch #
\nTrackhouse Racing<\/p>\n
For more of the latest NASCAR news and analysis, visit Speedcafe US<\/a><\/p>\n