The closeout of the 2024 NTT series at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix was just how Kyle Kirkwood envisioned it after securing a win there during the 2023 season. Though he ended in the race in fourth, he could still pull off a pole win after being unable to achieve this earlier in the season.
The driver couldn’t have been happier with the results, and it’s safe to say that fans of the weren’t disappointed either. The win will undoubtedly shake things up regarding how he’ll fare in 2025 and give him the edge he needs to go off without a hitch and maybe even repeat another win in Nashville to top the pole win he secured at the close of this season.
Where Kyle Kirkwood Stands After His Pole Win
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Kirkwood had a pretty impressive qualifying day on Saturday, with a two-lap average of 201.52 mph qualifying for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville. The win was his first-ever oval pole and second of his career with Andretti Global driving the no. 27. The 25-year-old Jupiter, Florida native is no stranger to the race and track after securing a win in 2023.
He scored 23.7518 and 27.7702, respectively, at 47.52 seconds to qualify for the starting position on Sunday, 9/15, at Nashville Superspeedway. During Saturday’s practice, the driver sustained minor damage to his Dallara-Honda in a crash, a practice that was held off for two hours due to a weather delay.
Unsurprisingly, Kyle Kirkwood still managed to secure a number one spot for Sunday’s lineup, ultimately leading to him clinching his second career pole win over the weekend. There was no denying that he would reign supreme even as the NTT series season ended. The long overdue win will push him even further for the 2025 season.
“I’m stoked right now,” Kirkwood said. “It’s huge for our season to end off with a pole. I was a little upset we didn’t get a win or a pole( this season), and this is our final chance to do it, and we got it done.”
What The Win Means for the 2025 Season
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The pole win for Kyle Kirkwood on Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway says a lot about how the 2025 season will turn out for him and Andretti Global. He is 7th in overall standings, has earned 5 top 5s, 13 top 10s, and is four poles shy of New Zealand-born Scott McLaughlin, driver of the no. 3 Dallara-Chevrolet for Team Penske.
His current standing also places him between Scott Dixon, ranked 6th, and Josef Newgarden, 8th, to close out the 2024 season. Kirkwood’s current standing won’t hurt his chances of securing another pole or his first championship win at a notable race like the Indianapolis 500. However, it may be challenging given Josef New Garden’s record of success in IndyCar.
Newgarden has achieved 58 career top 3s,85 top 5s, two championship wins, 18 pole wins, 31 career wins, and two career Indianapolis 500 wins. The same could also be said for seasoned driver Scott Dixon, who has captured 58 race wins, 28 poles, six championships, 142 top 2s, 211 top 5s, and a single Indianapolis 500 victory throughout his career. So, this will surely be a challenge for Kyle Kirkwood, but with his tenacity and knack for challenges, there’s no doubt he’ll do what he does best and rise to the challenge.
Final Thoughts
Capping off the NTT Series with a pole win was just what Kyle Kirkwood had in mind after qualifying first in the starting line-up for Sunday’s race. Initially, challenges stood in his way with a crash during Saturday practice and a weather delay, but he still managed to pull it off. There’s no doubt he’s an impressive driver. Though he’s had a shaky start, he’ll continue to defy the odds and pull the success from the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix and his current seventh overall ranking in standings next to more seasoned NTT series driver Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon.
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