HAMPTON, Ga. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Matt Hazlett/Getty Images for NASCAR photo —
Joe Gibbs Racing continued their steamroller of momentum Saturday morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway, led by all-time XFINITY wins leader and team veteran Kyle Busch.
The 2009 XFINITY champion was second or better in all three knockout rounds, leading round one and going runner-up in round two, but it was his lap of 29.887 seconds (185.499 mph) in the third and final round that garnered him his 49th career series pole in his 2016 debut.
“Overall I couldn’t be more pleased with our NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry,” Busch said after qualifying. “I’ve sat on poles, but I haven’t won here so that eats at me every time I come here. This is a really good race car, so hopefully we can finally change that today.”
Busch circled the new bump stop rules for the XFINITY Series this season as a component that aided in the feel of his car during the three qualifying runs.
“Yesterday the car drove really good. I was surprised with how well it drove with the new bump stop rule. It’s a little bit different feel, but it was a little bit smoother to drive. I think our guys have a little bit greater window to work in. I’m looking forward to today’s race — I don’t think it’s going to change much how the race plays out, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Behind Busch were two of his JGR teammates, giving the ‘Coach’ a sweep of the top three grid spots ahead of the Heads Up Georgia 250 (1:30 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM).
19-year-old rookie Erik Jones clocked in second at a clip of 29.955 seconds (185.078 mph), putting himself on the front row at AMS for the first time in the No. 20 Hisense Toyota.
“We’re really happy with the car,” Jones admitted. “We had a shot at it but Kyle just had a little bit better run than us.”
“Our car is one that we can use to run up front today. The track is going to change and the way the tires are going to wear out is going to make it different over a run. I think guys like (Kevin) Harvick will be up front at the end but I think we’ll have a pretty good shot at (challenging for the win).”
Reigning series Rookie of the Year Daniel Suarez rounded out the Gibbs trio up front, posting the third-fastest lap (29.964/185.022) of qualifying in his No. 19 ARRIS Toyota.
The three JGR teammates were the only three cars to break into the 29-second bracket during the final round of qualifying.
Behind them, a pair of Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolets — piloted by Kyle Larson and Brennan Poole — rounded out the ‘Fast Five’.
Larson said that despite his line in qualifying not being the ‘preferred groove’, he is prepared to march to the front in search of the victory later in the afternoon.
“I think the fact that we got a little bit of a draft helped [our run] a little bit — we don’t exactly have the speed the JGR cars have but to be the fastest Hendrick [powered] Chevrolet is good,” Larson said. “The bottom is typically the fastest line around here but I’m normally a top-side guy, so I’m just gonna try and hit all my marks and see how it pans out.”
The rest of the cars advancing to the final round and making the top dozen included Ty Dillon, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Sieg, Brendan Gaughan, three-time defending race winner Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Justin Allgaier; who will start in positions six through 12, respectively.
NXS veteran Blake Koch was the first car who failed to advance to the final round, and he will start 13th in the No. 11 Leaf Filter Gutter Protection Chevrolet.
Despite not making the last cut, Koch was enthusiastic about his chances of contending for a solid result come race time.
“This feels great,” Koch smiled. “Our goal at Kaulig Racing was to be solid in the top 15, and we qualified 13th, so we’re right where we need to be I feel like. It’s cool that the car is good early, and hopefully we’ll be able to have that in the race today as well.”
Notables failing to advance from round two to the final round of qualifying included Elliott Sadler (16th), Ryan Reed (17th), Darrell Wallace Jr. (18th) and Brandon Jones (19th) — representing JR Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing (Reed & Wallace) and Richard Childress Racing, respectively.
Harrison Rhodes’ No. 97 Obaika Racing Chevrolet was the first car outside the cutoff in round one, falling six thousandths (0.006) of a second short of advancing and placing him 25th (31.142/178.023) on the grid for Saturday afternoon’s race.
Rhodes was joined by Georgia native Garrett Smithley among those who just missed the transfer in round one. Smithley will roll off 26th in his first drive for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in the No. 0 Chevrolet.
With only 40 cars in attendance, all drivers who attempted to qualify made the starting field.
The Heads Up Georgia 250 goes green at 1:30 p.m. ET, with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Motorsports Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
RESULTS: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying; Atlanta Motor Speedway; Feb. 27, 2016
- Kyle Busch
- Erik Jones
- Daniel Suarez
- Kyle Larson
- Brennan Poole
- Ty Dillon
- Brad Keselowski
- Ryan Sieg
- Brendan Gaughan
- Kevin Harvick
- Paul Menard
- Justin Allgaier
- Blake Koch
- Jeremy Clements
- Jeb Burton
- Elliott Sadler
- Ryan Reed
- Darrell Wallace Jr.
- Brandon Jones
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Ryan Preece
- J.J. Yeley
- Corey LaJoie
- Ross Chastain
- Harrison Rhodes
- Garrett Smithley
- Ray Black Jr.
- David Starr
- B.J. McLeod
- Carl Long
- Jeff Green
- Mario Gosselin
- Joey Gase
- Derrike Cope
- Todd Peck
- Mike Harmon
- Cody Ware
- Josh Reaume
- Morgan Shepherd
- Chris Cockrum
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 both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
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