For the first time in his young career, Cole Custer will lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series field to the green flag for today’s (May 4) Allied Steel Buildings 200 at Dover International Speedway.
Perfecting the new single-car qualifying format NASCAR implemented earlier this week, Custer ran a lap of 157.329 mph, narrowly edging out Justin Allgaier (157.219 mph), Austin Cindric (157.054 mph), Christopher Bell (157.048 mph) and Tyler Reddick (157.034 mph) for the pole position. The top-five drivers were separated by less than half a tenth of a second.
“I think it’s exciting, but it’s stressful as a driver,” Custer said of the qualifying format. “You’re just psyching yourself out the whole time. Should I run this lane, this lane?”
Rookie Zane Smith will start the 200-lap race from sixth. Chase Briscoe, Brandon Jones, Noah Gragson and Ross Chastain rounded out the top 10.
Prior to qualifying, Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet failed inspection three times, ejecting his car chief from the racetrack. He will also have a 30-minute penalty in practice at Charlotte on May 23.
ALLIED STEEL BUILDINGS 200 STARTING LINEUP
The green flag for the Allied Steel Buildings 200 will fly shortly after 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Allgaier is the defending race winner, though Bell was victorious in the most recent race in October.
NASCAR RACE WEEKEND CENTRAL: DOVER
About the author
Dustin joined the Frontstretch team at the beginning of the 2016 season. 2020 marks his sixth full-time season covering the sport that he grew up loving. His dream was to one day be a NASCAR journalist, thus why he attended Ithaca College (Class of 2018) to earn a journalism degree. Since the ripe age of four, he knew he wanted to be a storyteller.
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