ALTON, Va. — Audio, photo and story by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman —
Austin Cindric is two-for-two so far in his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East start at Virginia International Raceway.
Just hours after he topped practice in the No. 39 Reynolds Wrap/K&T Sports Memorabilia Toyota for Martin-McClure Racing, the 17-year-old, second-generation racer stormed to the top of the qualifying time-sheets en route to winning his first career 21 Means 21 Pole Award during group qualifying on Saturday.
Cindric turned a lap of 1:27.792 on his one and only trip around the 2.25-mile North Course at VIR, just shy of Scott Heckert’s track record of 1:27.324 set last August, but it was enough to place him on top of the 24-car field for the fourth-annual Biscuitville 125 (3:45 p.m. ET).
“We went one and done because the car just got hot on the second lap (from) trying to maximize as much as we could get around the race track,” said Cindric, who will make his K&N East debut during Saturday afternoon’s race. “This team is great. They’ve been really friendly to me, and Eric and Hal have been fantastic getting me up to speed in the car. It’s all good, and really cool to come out in my first-ever K&N race and get the pole. I couldn’t be happier.”
“I was a little surprised at the number we put up right off the box, but that was the best the car’s been all day, to be honest. Just super proud of all the effort the guys have put into this one, and hopefully we can convert this great opportunity into a win later today for both MMR and myself.”
Justin Haley ended qualifying in the exact same position as he did in practice — second to Cindric — after a quick lap of 1:28.039 on his second and final trip around the race track. The Winamac, Indiana teenager, who turned 17 on Thursday, was the only driver within a full second of the pole time and missed it by just under a quarter-second.
Kaz Grala bumped up slightly from his run in final practice, going third at a time of 1:28.887, with Noah Gragson (1:29.388) and Austin Theriault (1:29.618) rounding out the ‘Fast Five’.
Tyler Dippel, Kyle Benjamin, Collin Cabre, Brian Henderson and Harrison Burton will fill out the first five rows on the grid.
The Biscuitville 125 is slated for a 3:45 p.m. ET start time. Sergio Pena is the defending winner of the race, and will roll off from the 23rd starting position in the No. 18 Drive Technology/Hunt-Sellers Racing Toyota.
Audio with pole winner Austin Cindric:
RESULTS: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East; Coors Light Pole Qualifying; VIRginia International Raceway; April 30, 2016
- Austin Cindric
- Justin Haley
- Kaz Grala
- Noah Gragson
- Austin Theriault
- Tyler Dippel
- Kyle Benjamin
- Collin Cabre
- Brian Henderson
- Harrison Burton
- Spencer Davis
- Ruben Garcia Jr.
- Jairo Avila Jr.
- J.P. Morgan
- Gracin Raz
- John Holleman IV
- Dominique van Wieringen
- Ronnie Bassett Jr.
- Hunter Baize
- Sarah Cornett-Ching
- Ali Kern
- Dillon Bassett
- Sergio Pena
- Trey Hutchens
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: news@racechaseronline.com
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