SPARTA, Ky. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Audio by Associate Editor Kyle Magda — Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images photo —
Daniel Suarez was the ruler of Sparta on Saturday evening, pacing the final two rounds of knockout qualifying to score the Coors Light Pole Award at Kentucky Speedway.
The young Mexico City native posted a lap of 30.024 seconds (179.856 mph) on his first lap in round three to secure his third career pole, and third of the season, ahead of Saturday night’s VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM).
“I think we have a really good piece,” Suarez said of his No. 18 ARRIS Toyota. “I feel like the track is going to change a pretty good amount before tonight’s race, but overall the car is good. All my guys did an amazing job making adjustments and improving the car every run, and it’s fast. Now we just have to see if we can make it happen tonight [and get a win.]”
The front row will be made up entirely of drivers looking for their first-career NXS victory, as Richard Childress Racing’s Brian Scott timed in second-quick during the final round (30.192/178.855), but fell nearly two tenths short of the mark he was hoping to attain.
Two more Chevrolets in Regan Smith (30.215/178.719) and Ty Dillon (30.277/178.353) will follow in row two, with the always-potent Team Penske Ford of Ryan Blaney (30.355/177.895) rounding out the fast five.
Defending race winner Brendan Gaughan clocked in sixth ahead of a stunning run for the family-owned team of Jeremy Clements in seventh. Reigning champion Chase Elliott, current points leader Chris Buescher and a super sub in Drew Herring were the balance of the top 10 qualifiers.
Ross Chastain gave JD Motorsports its first-ever final-round appearance with an 11th place effort, with Elliott Sadler the final driver who advanced through all three rounds of knockout qualifying.
“I thought we were going to [lack speed], honestly,” Chastain admitted after his final run. “This is pretty cool though, to have JD Motorsports in the final round. It’s my first time in the final round, as well. We made up some speed — we’re barely lifting with how cloudy it was out there — but the car’s great as far as handling goes on the long run. This is a lot of fun.”
J.J. Yeley (30.608/176.424) was the first car to miss the final round cut, bumped out by Herring as the red and black flags flew to end the session, and as such will start 13th.
The difference between he and the final round? 27 one-thousandths (0.027) of a second.
“I’m just happy to be in Kentucky,” Yeley smiled. “JGL Racing gave me a great car, and it’s been really fast. I know it was close, but we got a little bit tight and that’s probably where the difference was.”
“Regardless, this is a race track I’ve always enjoyed. I’ve always run well here and I almost got my first win here. We’re really good, even though we just missed it a little bit, so hopefully we can come away with a solid top 10 finish [in the race].”
Other notables who failed to transfer to round three included Darrell Wallace Jr., hometown hero Ben Rhodes and Matt Tifft, making his XFINITY debut for Joe Gibbs Racing. The trio will start 14th through 16th on the grid — just ahead of a disappointing Brandon Jones, who could only muster a 22nd-place run after being confirmed as a full-time driver for Richard Childress Racing’s NXS program in 2016 on Friday.
Brian Scott led the opening round of qualifying with a lap of 179.253 mph, ahead of Elliott, Blaney, Suarez and Ty Dillon.
Both Cale Conley and Ryan Sieg were bumped out of advancing to round two in the final moments of the first session, by Michael Self and Ryan Truex, respectively. The pair will start 25th and 26th for the 300-mile race.
“You know, whether you start 25th or 21st, your approach is the same,” a disappointed Conley said. “You have to stay on the lead lap as long as you can. It’s not ideal for us to be knocked out in the first round, especially for me as a driver. You want [the first run] to be a practice lap so you can go get it in the second or third round. It’s frustrating, but everything is good in life because I’m here running in a NASCAR race.”
“One day you guys (the media) will be interviewing me about the pole.”
Mario Gosselin was the lone car to miss the race, short of the top-33 speed cutoff by two tenths of a second.
The VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 takes the green flag at 8 p.m. ET (NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM).
Audio with polesitter Daniel Suarez:
Audio with seventh-quick Jeremy Clements:
RESULTS: NASCAR XFINITY Series; Coors Light Pole Qualifying; Kentucky Speedway; September 26, 2015
- Daniel Suarez
- Brian Scott
- Regan Smith
- Ty Dillon
- Ryan Blaney
- Brendan Gaughan
- Jeremy Clements
- Chase Elliott
- Chris Buescher
- Drew Herring (subbing for Erik Jones)
- Ross Chastain
- Elliott Sadler
- J.J. Yeley
- Darrell Wallace Jr.
- Ben Rhodes
- Matt Tifft
- Brennan Poole
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Ryan Reed
- Dylan Lupton
- Michael Self
- Brandon Jones
- Ryan Truex
- Blake Koch
- Cale Conley
- Ryan Sieg
- Dylan Kwasniewski
- Harrison Rhodes
- David Starr
- Joey Gase
- Jeff Green
- T.J. Bell
- Eric McClure
- Carl Long
- Morgan Shepherd
- Derrike Cope
- Ryan Ellis
- Mike Harmon
- Martin Roy
- John Jackson Jr.
DNQ: Mario Gosselin
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 21-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 both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: [email protected]
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Follow Race Chaser Online: @RaceChaserNews
