McLaughlin led 34 laps continuing the momentum at the end of last season. In spite of not achieving victory in 2025, two of his three third-place finishes came in the season’s final two races, oval races at the Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway. The St. Petersburg podium finish was McLaughlin’s first on a street circuit since the 2023 race in Nashville. He finished second that day after starting on the pole. This weekend’s pole gave him 12 as he begins his sixth season as a series full-timer.

“I think we’ve had a really good run (going) back to the end of last season,” McLaughlin said. “I thought we found our mojo a little bit and then this weekend, as well.

“I knew this was going to be a strong track (for us), so I had to make the most of it.

The podium finish was McLaughlin’s first on a street circuit since the 2023 race in Nashville. He finished second that day after starting on the pole. This weekend’s pole gave him 12 as he begins his sixth season as a series full-timer.