As the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs begin this week at Bristol Motor Speedway, Justin Allgaier is seeking a second consecutive series championship. He’ll get his fight for the second title off on the right foot as he scored the pole for Friday night’s Food City 300.
Starting Lineup: Food City 300 at Bristol
“To fire off with a pole position just to set the tone, right, the start of these Playoffs, we have had so much speed this year. We’ve been as fast as Xfinity Mobile, a lot. We just haven’t had the results to show for it,” Allgaier explained. “Again, really proud of Jim Pohlman, and this whole No. 7 team, everybody at JR Motorsports. It’s going to be a long night, we all know that, but there’s not a place I love coming to more than Bristol. And there’s not a better way to start the Playoffs off than to get a pole.”
The driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet circled the 0.533-mile Tennessee short track in 15.843 seconds, a lap that equated to 121.113 mph, which allowed him to pick up his first NASCAR Xfinity Series pole position since a pole-winning run at Texas Motor Speedway in Fall 2023.
Not only does the pole give Allgaier the track position advantage for Friday night at Bristol, but he feels the No. 1 pit stall selection next weekend will also be a major benefit of Friday’s qualifying run.
“Well, it’s not only an advantage for tonight with the track conditions like they are, but I think it’s an advantage for next week too, right, getting that pit stall selection,” Allgaier explained. “Really proud of this team.”
Allgaier topped Sam Mayer, who drives the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford Mustang Dark Horse, by 0.094 seconds to take the top starting spot in Friday night’s race.
For Allgaier, this pole marks his 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series pole position.
Aric Almirola slotted in third position, behind the front row of Allgaier and Mayer. Connor Zilisch, who has nine wins through the opening 26 races of his NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie campaign, will start from the fourth position.
Taylor Gray, William Sawalich, Harrison Burton, Ryan Sieg, Jesse Love, and Sheldon Creed rounded out the top-10 qualifiers for the Food City 300 at Bristol.
Stefan Parsons locked down the 13th starting spot behind the wheel of the No. 35 Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet, which marks the best-ever qualifying position for that team at non-superspeedway and non-road course tracks.
Here is where all 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff contenders will start on Friday evening:
Justin Allgaier (1st)
Sam Mayer (2nd)
Connor Zilisch (4th)
Taylor Gray (5th)
Harrison Burton (7th)
Jesse Love (9th)
Sheldon Creed (10th)
Carson Kvapil (11th)
Sammy Smith (14th)
Nick Sanchez (20th)
Austin Hill (21st)
Brandon Jones (22nd)
Additionally, Aric Almirola, who is driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, which is part of the 12-car NASCAR Xfinity Series Owner Point Playoffs, will start from the third position on Friday.
