Blake Koch was ultimately the first driver to miss the cut to round two, bumped out by Jones on the latter’s final lap around the course.
Koch will line up 13th for the second week in a row in his No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, posting a quick lap of 1:25.496 (95.078 mph).
“Thirteenth isn’t a bad starting spot, because we don’t know if we’ll be racing the rain tomorrow,” Koch said. “We are disappointed, though. We feel like we have a top 10 car here, we unloaded really strong … and this is the biggest race of the year for us and for LeafFilter. It’s their hometown, they have signs all over the track and we have 220 people here representing them so we’re hoping to perform for all those guys this weekend.”
Jeremy Clements also just missed out on the final round; ultimately being knocked down to 14th in the order at the end of the first round after sitting 10th during the rain delay.
Other notables who will start outside the top 12 include IMSA regular Andy Lally (15th), Brennan Poole (17th), Brandon Jones (19th) and NASCAR Next driver Alon Day (22nd), who will become the first Israeli national to start a NASCAR national series event when he takes the green flag on Saturday.
David Starr spun off into the gravel trap at the keyhole roughly five minutes into round one, but the incident did not bring out a caution flag until 17 minutes, 46 seconds to go. An additional stoppage came with six minutes and 22 seconds to go in round one, when a strip of weather dropped light rain around the track.
The Mid-Ohio Challenge is scheduled to take the green flag at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
RESULTS: NASCAR XFINITY Series; Coors Light Pole Qualifying; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course; Aug. 12, 2016
- Sam Hornish Jr.
- Owen Kelly
- Ryan Blaney
- Elliott Sadler
- Daniel Suarez
- Erik Jones
- Ty Dillon
- Ryan Reed
- Nelson Piquet Jr.
- Darrell Wallace Jr.
- Justin Allgaier
- Brendan Gaughan
- Blake Koch
- Jeremy Clements
- Andy Lally
- Justin Marks
- Brennan Poole
- Kenny Habul
- Brandon Jones
- J.J. Yeley
- Ross Chastain
- Alon Day
- Ryan Sieg
- Ryan Preece
- Jeff Green
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Stanton Barrett
- T.J. Bell
- Ryan Ellis
- Mike Bliss
- Timmy Hill
- David Starr
- Ray Black Jr.
- Tim Cowen
- Jordan Anderson
- Garrett Smithley
- Joey Gase
- B.J. McLeod
- Roger Reuse
- 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 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: [email protected]
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Email Race Chaser Online: [email protected]
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