Chandler Smith’s introduction to the NASCAR Xfinity Series is off to a fantastic start with Kaulig Racing, a notion further highlighted with a pole position for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Smith, piloting the No. 16 QuickTie Chevrolet Camaro, was able to post the quickest lap in qualifying late in Friday’s session, putting down a time of 29.489 seconds (183.119mph).
The Talking Rock, Georgia-native’s pole position is the third straight for Kaulig Racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after AJ Allmendinger swept the poles at the 1.5-mile facility last season.
Starting alongside Smith on Saturday will be Justin Allgaier, while Ford Performance teammates Cole Custer and Brett Moffitt will round out the second row.
Rounding out the top five is Josh Berry, who will run double-duty after it was revealed on Friday that Chase Elliott sustained a leg injury while snowboarding in Colorado.
Parker Kligerman, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Hemric, and Austin Hill will round out the top-10 in Sunday’s 300-mile contest.
Kyle Busch, making his return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has earned an 11th-place start for Saturday’s event, but will have to start at the rear of the field for Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300.
