Despite having his crew chief Brian Wilson ejected out of Kentucky Speedway for body modifications on Thursday (July 12), Austin Cindric rebounded to win the pole for Friday’s Alsco 300.
Cindric laid down a lap of 180.030 mph, .060 seconds ahead of defending race winner Christopher Bell (179.623 mph). The pole is the fourth of Cindric’s young NASCAR career, and the first of 2019.
Noah Gragson turned the third quickest lap (179.551 mph), his best qualifying effort of the season. Justin Allgaier was fourth on the board (179.342 mph) with Cole Custer rounding out the top five (179.277 mph). The No. 00 Ford failed pre-qualifying inspection four times, but will not have to start at the rear, however, his car chief was ejected from the premises.
Brandon Jones ran the sixth fastest lap, with Riley Herbst, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe and Michael Annett rounding out the top 10.
John Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Truex, Ryan Sieg and Justin Haley were just outside the top 10. Ray Black Jr. will start a season-best 15th.
There were 38 cars that turned a lap, meaning all 38 cars qualified for the race.
The Alsco 300 will go green shortly after 7:40 p.m. ET.
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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