NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina: Qualifying, Shane Van Gisbergen’s Pole Position, Lineup At Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
By Jeff Hawkins,
13 hours ago
Shane van Gisbergen was the lone NASCAR Xfinity Series driver to top the 97-mph qualifying milestone Saturday, earning pole position for Drive for the Cure 250 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.
A circuit rookie, Van Gisbergen collected his third pole position this season, turning a hot lap of 97.11 mph. The three-time Supercars champion didn’t appreciate his first qualifying run, but rebounded in during his second lap.
“We left a little on the table just to make sure we got through,” Van Gisbergen told NBC Sports.
Sam Mayer, who lost his appeal from last week’s penalty event at Talladega Superspeedway, will start Saturday’s Round of 12 event on the outside of the front row. He finished 0.208 seconds behind the leader.
AJ Allmendinger, who has captured the past four series races at the Charlotte Road Course, earned a P3 start after qualifying 0.291 seconds behind his Kaulig Racing teammate.
Entering Saturday’s Round of 12 finale, Allmendinger sat seven points above the elimination line and van Gisbergen was 10 points below the cutline.
“We’re in a good spot,” Van Gisbergen said. “We’ll see how the race goes.”
Perfect AJ Allmendinger Eyes Charlotte Road Course Changes
Kaulig Racing driver AJ Allmendinger has captured all four Xfinity Series Roval events at the Charlotte Road Course.
Is he confident in going 5-for-5? Not so fast.
Saturday’s race will be different.
The reconfigured Roval now features a longer straightaway between Turns 5 and 6. It sets up a right turn along Turn 6 and leads to a hazardous left-hand hairpin turn along the next turn. Also, the front stretch chicane was altered as the entry to Turn 15 angles left before a near-90-degree right turn and another near-90-degree left turn preceding the start/finish line.
“I go into this weekend probably with the least amount of confidence that I ever been going into the Roval,” Allmendinger, who has collected a NASCAR National Series-record 14 road course wins. “You know, I looked at Talladega as a race I was like, I’ve probably got more of a chance to win there than I do at the Roval.”
Last year, Allmendinger swept the Roval races.
Starting Lineup for NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Drive For The Cure 250
Here is a look at the lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course:
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