Before Friday, if someone had told you that Noah Gragson – a seven-time winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series — had never won a pole in the second-tier series, you probably wouldn’t believe them.
However, in his 114th career start, the JR Motorsports driver broke that streak, posting a lap time of 29.542 seconds (182.791mph) in Friday’s single-car qualifying session from Texas Motor Speedway to claim the pole.
Tyler Reddick, returning to Big Machine Racing for a second consecutive race, will start on the outside of the front row, with Austin Hill, Brandon Jones, and Ryan Truex rounding out the top five.
Justin Allgaier, Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst complete the top-10 starters for Saturday’s SRS Distribution 250.
Among other notables, included: Daniel Hemric (11th), AJ Allmendinger (13th), William Byron (15th), and Sheldon Creed (21st).
JJ Yeley – driving the No. 66 Ford Mustang for MBM Motorsports — recorded an incredible qualifying effort, starting 14th, the best qualifying result in the 450-race history of MBM Motorsports.
How about that qualifying run by @jjyeley1?!?
His 14th-place starting spot for Saturday's #SRSDistribution250 at @TXMotorSpeedway is the best *qualifying* result in @MBMMotorsports's 450-race history in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.#NASCAR | #SrigleyStats Built by @FiveStarBodies pic.twitter.com/xSAFLUKMvi
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) May 20, 2022
Jesse Iwuji – listed on the entry list in the No. 34 — had a naval obligation on Friday, and had Kyle Weatherman qualify the Jesse Iwuji Motorsports entry, in 17th, but will return to drive the entry in the race tomorrow.
Brennan Poole, returning to Mike Harmon Racing for Texas, failed to qualify for the event, after 39 cars showed up for 38 positions.
