DOVER, Del. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Nick Laham/Getty Images North America photo —
Look out, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitors — Ryan Blaney is back.
Blaney, at the wheel of the No. 29 F-150 for Brad Keselowski Racing for his first series start of 2015, soared to the top of the scoring pylon in Keystone Light Pole Qualifying for Friday’s Lucas Oil 200. The 21-year-old clocked a track-record lap of 22.718 seconds (158.465 mph) in claiming his fifth career Truck Series pole.
“We’ve been able to get a really good read [with the new left side tire] with all the practice time we had yesterday. It lays down a lot of rubber,” Blaney explained. “We turned a good lap in qualifying and it was good enough for the record. It’s great to be back in the Camping World Truck Series, and hopefully we’ve got things figured out to where we can put it this Cooper Standard Ford in victory lane tonight.”
A fellow young gun starts alongside Blaney on the front row, as 18-year-old Erik Jones secured the outside pole with a lap of 22.787 seconds (157.985 mph). The Kyle Busch Motorsports driver was searching for his fourth career series pole and second of 2015, but will have clear track ahead of him as he looks to dispel his recent near-misses and finally claim his first Truck victory of the year.
Points leader Matt Crafton will roll from third in his No. 88 Rip It/Menards Toyota Tundra (22.841/157.611), with Blaney’s Brad Keselowski teammate Tyler Reddick to his outside in fourth (22.875/157.377). Jones’ KBM teammate Daniel Suarez rounded out the fast five (22.959/156.801).
2015 NASCAR Next inductee John Hunter Nemechek will roll from sixth, while fellow NASCAR Next class member Jesse Little starts ninth for ThorSport Racing in his national series debut.
The only caution of the three knockout rounds flew when Brandon Jones spun his GMS Racing No. 33 Chevrolet inside the final minute of Round 3. Jones went sliding through Turn 2 before making slight contact with the inside wall.
The 18-year-old failed to complete a lap in the five-minute round, and as such will start 12th.
Jones’ teammate Spencer Gallagher was the first truck to miss the cut to the final round and will roll from the 13th starting spot, while veterans Timothy Peters and Johnny Sauter also failed to make it out of round two and will start 14th and 16th, respectively.
Kyle Martel was the lone driver who failed to qualify for the event.
The Lucas Oil 200 will take the green flag at 5:30 p.m. Eastern, with live coverage on FOX Sports 1.
RESULTS: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series; Keystone Light Pole Qualifying; Dover International Speedway; May 29, 2015
- Ryan Blaney
- Erik Jones
- Matt Crafton
- Tyler Reddick
- Daniel Suarez
- John Hunter Nemechek
- Cameron Hayley
- Justin Boston
- Jesse Little
- Cole Custer
- Mason Mingus
- Brandon Jones
- Spencer Gallagher
- Timothy Peters
- Brandon Brown
- Johnny Sauter
- John Wes Townley
- Ben Kennedy
- Daniel Hemric
- Ray Black Jr.
- Austin Hill
- Timmy Hill
- B.J. McLeod
- Travis Kvapil
- Tyler Young
- Jusitn Jennings
- Korbin Forrister
- Ryan Ellis
- Tyler Tanner
- Jennifer Jo Cobb
- Timothy Viens
- Norm Benning
DNQ: Kyle Martel
