There is uncertainty as to what is next for Trevor Bayne, who has driven a part-time schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 18 entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season. But if Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Contender Boats 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway marks his last race in a NASCAR National Series event, he’ll be starting it from the pole position.
Bayne put down a blistering lap in qualifying on Friday, as he recorded a 32.400 sec. lap around the 1.5-mile speedway, which was 0.183 sec. faster than anyone else in the session.
The 31-year-old racer said that he didn’t quite hit his marks, but somehow his car stuck when he adjusted to a different line.
“Oh man, I just had to commit to it,” Bayne explained. “I got to the bottom too early in [Turns] 1 and 2 and I wanted to drive in deep, but it forced me to drive in shallow. Once I got to the bottom, it started to leave it. I just had to commit to the throttle.”
Bayne continued by saying, “It stuck. Made it off the corner.”
The Tennessee-native admitted that this could have been the final qualifying session of his NASCAR racing career, as he still has no plans lined up for the 2023 season.
Noah Gragson, who has scored a series-high seven wins this season, will start Saturday’s race from the outside of row one. Gragson, who is a favorite for the championship, could lock his way into the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway with a win on Saturday.
Ty Gibbs will start third and he’ll be followed by Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, Kyle Weatherman, Chandler Smith and Austin Hill inside the top-10.
With 40 cars attempting to make the show and only 38 spots available, two drivers and teams have to make the unfortunate trip back to their shop without competing in Saturday’s race.
The two cars that missed the show were the No. 77 Bassett Racing entry, driven by Dillon Bassett and the No. 92 DGM Racing entry, driven by Alex Labbe.
Here is the complete starting lineup along with the qualifying results for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Contender Boats 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway:
Qualifying Results: 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Contender Boats 300
