LEXINGTON, Ohio – Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman – Matt Sullivan/Getty Images photo –
Canadian Alex Tagliani is making his lone start with Team Penske count so far at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Tagliani, a winner already in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2015, made his quest for a first-career NASCAR XFINITY Series victory much easier during Coors Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, clocking a best lap of 84.626 seconds (96.056 mph) en route to his third career NXS pole and first of the 2015 season in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.
Alongside the Canadian road racing ace will be one of his Ford stablemates, Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher. The championship leader, who won last year’s Mid-Ohio stop for his first-career XFINITY victory, will look to go back to back after posting a time of 84.873 seconds (95.776 mph) around the 2.258 mile road course in the final round of knockout qualifying.
Ty Dillon, who paced opening practice on Friday, was third fastest (84.968/95.669) in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Boris Said (85.069/95.555) and Brian Scott (85.143/95.472) rounded out the fast five.
Defending series champion Chase Elliott, his teammates Regan Smith and Ben Rhodes, Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler filled out the top 10, with Darrell Wallace Jr. and Brendan Gaughan also advancing to the final round of knockout qualifying.
After setting the fastest lap in Friday’s Happy Hour session, Justin Marks was the first car to miss the cut for the final round and will start 13th in his No. 42 Chevrolet for HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi.
Other notables who failed to advance to the final round of qualifying included Kenny Habul (15th), Ryan Reed (17th), Dylan Kwasniewski (18th) and Brandon Jones (19th).
The Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 goes green at 3 p.m. Eastern time, with live coverage on NBC Sports Network.
RESULTS: NASCAR XFINITY Series; Coors Light Pole Qualifying; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course; August 15, 2015
- Alex Tagliani
- Chris Buescher
- Ty Dillon
- Boris Said
- Brian Scott
- Chase Elliott
- Regan Smith
- Ben Rhodes
- Daniel Suarez
- Elliott Sadler
- Darrell Wallace Jr.
- Brendan Gaughan
- Justin Marks
- Jeremy Clements
- Kenny Habul
- Dylan Lupton
- Ryan Reed
- Dylan Kwasniewski
- Brandon Jones
- Ryan Ellis
- Ryan Sieg
- Andy Lally
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Cale Conley
- Michael Self
- J.J. Yeley
- Tomy Drissi
- David Starr
- Carlos Contreras
- Blake Koch
- Eric McClure
- Ross Chastain
- Jeff Green
- Tim Cowen
- Joey Gase
- Derrike Cope
- Mike Harmon
- Josh Reaume
- Morgan Shepherd
- John Jackson
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. He 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
