Alex Bowman topped Erik Jones in the final moments of NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying to cap off an impressive qualifying session for JR Motorsports with his first-career pole at Michigan International Speedway.
Driving the team’s No. 88 Chevrolet, Bowman knocked Jones (191.535 mph) off the top spot as the final qualifier for Saturday’s Menards 250 Presented by Valvoline. Bowman was joined by teammates Elliott Sadler (191.342 mph) and Justin Allgaier (191.210 mph) to give JRM three of the top four starting positions for the race.
Kyle Busch rounded out the top five, with Daniel Suarez, Blake Koch, Brennan Poole, Joey Logano and Ryan Sieg completing the top 10. Ryan Reed and Paul Menard finished out the first round.
The session was completed with little issue. The only delay in the two round, single car qualifying session came when a trash bag flew onto the racing surface two cars into the final round.
The XFINITY Series will return to action at 1 p.m. ET for the Menards 250 Presented by Valvoline.
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.