Michael McDowell captured the eighth pole position of his NASCAR Cup Series career and will lead the field to green in the YellaWood 500 at Talladega.

Michael McDowell may be driving for a new team this year, but the Spire Motorsports driver still proved himself absolutely one of the fastest at a superspeedway, earning the Busch Light pole position for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 Playoff race at Talladega (Ala.

It is McDowell's second pole of the season and the eighth of his Cup Series career. Sunday, however, will be the third straight race he’s led the field at Talladega, having swept the season poles at the facility in 2024.

NASCAR Las Vegas radio coverage: Station, channel, streaming to listen live to 2025 playoff race broadcast originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The high-stakes race of the NASCAR Playoff Series is here with the South Point 400; the first race of round 8 is happening on October 12.