Enjoy Illinois 300: NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying Order Sets the Stage for Gateway

Here we go again, another race weekend, another head-scratcher of a qualifying order. If you’ve ever tried to explain to a casual fan how NASCAR sets the lineup for qualifying, you’ve probably ended up just as confused as they are. It’s a metric system that feels like it was cooked up in a lab, a mix of last week’s finish and season-long points that spits out a list.

And this week, for the Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway, that list has a few stories to tell before a single car hits the track. The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are heating up, and we’re heading to World Wide Technology Raceway, a track that’s as tricky as its name is long. This 1.25-mile beast is where hopes can be made or crushed, and it all starts with the qualifying order.

What’s the Deal with the Qualifying Order Anyway?

Let’s be real for a second. The qualifying order isn’t just some random draw. It’s all about a formula and  70% based on how a car finished last week and 30% on its owner’s points standing. It’s NASCAR’s way of rewarding recent performance while still giving a nod to the season-long grind. So, the guys who had a rough go last weekend get a shot at clean air early, while the top dogs have to wait their turn, watching and learning as the track rubbers in.

This Saturday, it’s a one-lap, one-round shootout. No second chances. You get one shot to lay down a heater, and that’s it. For the playoff drivers, the pressure is immense. A good qualifying spot at Gateway is more than just a good starting position, but a statement. It’s about track position, pit stall selection, and a massive dose of confidence heading into Sunday.

Drivers to Watch in This Qualifying Order

Looking at the qualifying order, you’ve got guys like Cody Ware and Ty Dillon rolling out first. For them, it’s a chance to put a lap on the board before the track gets slick and greasy. But let’s be honest, all eyes are on the playoff contenders grouped at the back. Chase Briscoe, coming in dead last on the qualifying order, has to feel the heat.

After a great run, he gets the supposed “best” track conditions, but he also carries the weight of everyone else’s times. He’ll know exactly what he needs to do to grab the pole, but knowing and doing are two very different things, especially at Gateway. Right ahead of him are Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin. These two are always a threat, and you can bet they’ll be wringing every last ounce of speed out of their cars.

Hamlin, in particular, is a master strategist. He’ll have a plan before he even straps in. Then you have the rookies. Shane van Gisbergen, a playoff driver in his rookie season, is a remarkable story. He’s proven he can wheel a car on any track, but a one-lap qualifying run on an oval is a different kind of pressure cooker. Every move he makes is being watched, and he’s got to perform.

Enjoy Illinois 3oo at World Wide Technology Raceway

Cup Series: Entries

(i) indicates drivers ineligible for obtaining regular driver points 

(p) signifies drivers running on the playoff grid

1. Cody Ware No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Chevrolet)
2. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
3. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
4. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
5. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
6. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
7. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
8. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
9. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
10. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
11. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
12. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
13. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
14. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
15. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
16. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
17. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
18. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
19. A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
20. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
21. Josh Berry (p), No. 21 (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
22. Alex Bowman (p), No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
23. Shane van Gisbergen (p), No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Ford)
24. Christopher Bell (p), No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
25. Austin Dillon (p), No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
26. Joey Logano (p), No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
27. William Byron (p), No. 24  (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
28. Chase Elliott (p), No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
29. Ryan Blaney (p), No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
30. Kyle Larson (p), No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
31. Austin Cindric (p), No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
32. Ross Chastain (p), No. 1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
33. Bubba Wallace (p), No. 23 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
34. Denny Hamlin (p), No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
35. Tyler Reddick (p), No. 45 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
36. Chase Briscoe (p), No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)

Why This Qualifying Order Matters for Gateway

Gateway isn’t a cookie-cutter oval. It’s flat, it’s tight, and passing can be a real bear. Starting up front is a huge advantage. You stay out of the mid-pack chaos, you get a better shot at clean air, and you control your own destiny on restarts. A bad qualifying run here means you’re fighting from the jump, trying to claw your way through a field of angry drivers who all want the same piece of asphalt.

So, when you see this qualifying order, don’t just see a list of names. See the strategy. See the pressure. See the stories building before the main event even starts. This is where the weekend truly begins. It’s a chess match at 150 miles per hour, and Saturday’s qualifying is the opening move. You can bet every single one of those drivers, from first to last on the sheet, is ready to leave it all on the line for that one perfect lap.