NASCAR

NASCAR Xfinity Series Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300: Qualifying, Chandler Smith’s Pole Position, Lineup At Homestead-Miami Speedway

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published25 Oct 2024

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xfinity chandler smith wins pole at homestead playoff (1)

Fronting a trio of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Friday, Chandler Smith, an Xfinity Series Round of 8 competitor, earned the pole position for Saturday’s Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  

Smith, who could become a free agent at season’s end, turned a hot lap of 163.305 mph, edging garage-mates Sheldon Creed by 0.098 seconds and Aric Almirola by 0.113 seconds. 

“Really cool to see three Joe Gibbs Racing (machines) in the top three,” Smith told NBC Sports. “Tip of the cap to everyone.” 

Beginning the second of three Round of 8 events Saturday, Cole Custer (162.558 mph) and Justin Allgaier (162.553) rounded out the top-five qualifiers. 

Smith will start from the inside of the front row for the third time this season. The No. 4-ranked playoff driver needs a good start Saturday to hold off Austin Hill, who trails Smith by eight points and qualified 16th Friday.

‘Stone Cole’ Custer Grapples With WWE NXT Skills  

The timing was right for “Stone Cole” Custer, the reigning Xfinity Series champion, to fulfill a personal goal and climb into a professional wrestling ring.  

With WWE’s NXT on The CW serving as the No.  00 Ford’s main sponsor this weekend, Custer, a longtime wrestling fan, appeared with Hank Walker and Tank Ledger, “Hank and Tank” and aided in the tag-team match win. 

“Man, it’s been awesome, Custer told NXT. “Getting to know Hank and Tank and everything involved here, I mean, those guys are so incredible, how they’re flying around the ring. Learning everything today was just absolutely insane. So it was awesome to have this collaboration and get to see them on the hood this weekend.”

Xfinity Series’ Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300 Lineup

Here is a look at the lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway: 

Starting Position, Driver, Car No., Team 

  • 1, Chandler Smith, 81, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 2, Sheldon Creed, 18, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 3, Aric Almirola, 20, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 4, Cole Custer, 00, Stewart-Haas Racing 
  • 5, Justin Allgaier, 7, JR Motorsports 
  • 6, AJ Allmendinger, 16, Kaulig Racing 
  • 7, Parker Kligerman, 48, Big Machine Racing 
  • 8, Riley Herbst, 98, Stewart-Haas Racing 
  • 9, Sam Mayer, 1, JR Motorsports 
  • 10, Sammy Smith, 8, JR Motorsports 
  • 11, Parker Retzlaff, 31, Jordan Anderson Racing 
  • 12, William Sawalich, 19, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 13, Connor Zilisch, 88, JR Motorsports 
  • 14, Jesse Love, 2, Richard Childress Racing 
  • 15, Jeb Burton, 27, Jordan Anderson Racing 
  • 16, Austin Hill, 21, Richard Childress Racing 
  • 17, Ryan Sieg, 28, RSS Racing 
  • 18, Anthony Alfredo, 5, Our Motorsports 
  • 19, Brennan Poole, 44, Alpha Prime Racing 
  • 20, Brandon Jones, 9, JR Motorsports 
  • 21, Kyle Weatherman, 91, DGM Racing 
  • 22, Ryan Truex, 26, Sam Hunt Racing 
  • 23, Jeremy Clements, 51, Jeremy Clements Racing 
  • 24, Josh Williams, 11, Kaulig Racing 
  • 25, Shane van Gisbergen, 97, Kaulig Racing 
  • 26, Leland Honeyman, 42, Young’s Motorsports 
  • 27, Kyle Sieg, 39, RSS Racing 
  • 28, Brad Perez, 07, SS GreenLight Racing 
  • 29, Dawson Cram, 74, Mike Harmon Racing 
  • 30, Dylan Lupton, 15, AM Racing 
  • 31, Ryan Ellis, 43, Alpha Prime Racing 
  • 32, Mason Maggio, 45, Alpha Prime Racing 
  • 33, Nick Leitz, 92, DGM Racing 
  • 34, Austin Green, 14, SS GreenLight Racing 
  • 35, Blaine Perkins, 29, RSS  Racing 
  • 36, Thomas Annunziata, 53, Joey Gase Motorsports 
  • 37, Armani Williams, 35, Joey Gase Motorsports 
  • 38, Matt DiBenedetto, 38, RSS Racing