Fastest qualifier in auto racing

Latest answer — October 01, 2026

21 Across

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Clue explained

In auto racing, the fastest qualifier earns the pole position, the coveted first starting spot. The pole car is the car that secured that position.

Clue type:
Definition
A race car at the front of a starting grid in pole position.

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Thursday, October 01, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Pride letters
  2. 5Latch (onto)
  3. 9Pricey strings, familiarly
  4. 14Geometric calculation
  5. 15Spiritual energy
  6. 16Canines, e.g.
  7. 17"Top Gun" and "Top Gun: Maverick" actor
  8. 19Spy collection
  9. 20Do-nothing
  10. 21Fastest qualifier in auto racing
  11. 23Welcomes
  12. 25Insect such as Bombyx mori
  13. 28Possesses
  14. 29All ready
  15. 31"I disagree"
  16. 32Word with flat or late
  17. 33Plemons of "The Power of the Dog"
  18. 35Lends a hand
  19. 36"The Kiss" painter
  20. 40Without a date
  21. 42Like many a chimney sweep
  22. 43Resistance unit
  23. 44Show stoppers?
  24. 47Org. overseeing LA28
  25. 48Part of B&B
  26. 51Appear as
  27. 54"Friends" friend
  28. 56Lady Gaga, for one
  29. 58Moral standard
  30. 59Burp
  31. 61Ice cream treat, or what can be found in 17-, 25-, 36-, or 51-Across?
  32. 63Nebraska city
  33. 64Fancy party spread
  34. 65Like leap years
  35. 66Some sushi fish
  36. 67Lock lips, in London
  37. 68Musical pause

Down

  1. 1Extravagant
  2. 2Top-notch
  3. 3Some ball attendees
  4. 4Opinions, informally
  5. 5Lass
  6. 6Gravy imperfection
  7. 7Cookies with many limited-edition flavors
  8. 8Miami baseball player
  9. 9Like flypaper
  10. 10Brunch hr.
  11. 11Supply with updated parts
  12. 12Feasted on
  13. 13UPS competitor
  14. 18Van Gogh flowers
  15. 22She, in Portuguese
  16. 24Tree house?
  17. 26Danson of "The Good Place"
  18. 27Bucks and rams
  19. 30ID checkers at an airport
  20. 33Big container
  21. 34Chargeable autos, for short
  22. 35"Good Hang" podcaster Poehler
  23. 36Locker room strategy
  24. 37Fish that turns into a dragon, per myth
  25. 38Roller coaster feature
  26. 39Desires
  27. 40"Help us!"
  28. 41Not just a
  29. 44Socially dominant types
  30. 45Accomplished
  31. 46Cuts corners
  32. 48"Don't act up!"
  33. 49Battery-powered rides
  34. 50Clothed, so to speak
  35. 52Frappuccino flavor
  36. 53Water brand
  37. 55Last multiple-choice choice, often
  38. 57Midrange voice
  39. 59Many a customer service assistant
  40. 60Animal mascot for Liberty Mutual
  41. 62Beer dispenser

The answer to “Fastest qualifier in auto racing” in the The Washington Post crossword is POLECAR — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 1, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 21-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Fastest qualifier in auto racing” answer

POLECAR (7 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is POLECAR.

When else has “Fastest qualifier in auto racing” appeared?

The Washington Post reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

October 1, 2026 (most recent) → POLECAR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Fastest qualifier in auto racing”?

The answer is POLECAR, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 1, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Fastest qualifier in auto racing”?

7 letters: POLECAR.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 1, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 21-Across.

Can “Fastest qualifier in auto racing” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for October 1, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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