Just when NASCAR Xfinity Series teams thought they wouldn’t have to deal with the road course dominance of AJ Allmendinger anymore, he’s back, and as good as he’s always been.
Driving the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing, Allmendinger is set to start on the pole for Saturday’s Pit Boss Grills 250 at Circuit of The Americas, after posting the quickest time in the final round of qualifying Friday.
Allmendinger’s 133.184-second lap placed him a half-second ahead of Phoenix winner and NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie Sammy Smith at the front of the field, marking the ninth career pole for the Los Gatos, California-native in the second-tier series.
Ty Gibbs, making his first Xfinity Series start of the season for Joe Gibbs Racing, will start Saturday’s event from third place, while Sheldon Creed and Parker Kligerman will round out the race’s top-five starters.
John Hunter Nemechek, Riley Herbst, Justin Allgaier, William Byron, and Cole Custer completed the top-10, after advancing into the final round of Friday’s group qualifying session.
William Byron, making the first start of the year for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, was on-pace to start from the lead in Saturday’s event, until he was penalized for cutting the course.
Other notables starting outside the top-10 include Daniel Hemric (11th), Austin Hill (12th), Aric Almirola (13th), Sam Mayer (14th), Josh Berry (15th), Brandon Jones (26th), Chandler Smith (27th), Ryan Sieg (31st).
With 42 drivers entered for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at COTA, four failed to qualify for the event, those being: Parker Chase, Garrett Smithley, Baltazar Leguizamon, and Cameron Lawrence.
