NASCAR

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

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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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Published2 hours ago on October 12, 2024

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Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #91 Enhance Health Chevrolet, gives a thumbs up in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course on July 02, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois

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:   

Starting Position, Driver, Car No., Team   

  • 1, Shane van Gisbergen, 97, Kaulig Racing 
  • 2, Sam Mayer, 1, JR Motorsports 
  • 3, AJ Allmendinger 16, Kaulig Racing 
  • 4, Josh Bilicki, 19, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 5, Sheldon Creed, 18, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 6, Austin Hill, 21, Richard Childress Racing 
  • 7, Chandler Smith, 81, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 8, Jesse Love, 2, Richard Childress Racing 
  • 9, Justin Allgaier, 7, JR Motorsports 
  • 10, Connor Mosack, 88, JR Motorsports 
  • 11, Anthony Alfredo, 5, Our Motorsports 
  • 12, Riley Herbst, 98, Stewart-Haas Racing 
  • 13, Aric Almirola, 20, Joe Gibbs Racing 
  • 14, Cole Custer, 00, Stewart-Haas Racing 
  • 15, Brandon Jones, 9, JR Motorsports 
  • 16, Sammy Smith, 8, JR Motorsports 
  • 17, Austin Green, 32, Jordan Anderson Racing 
  • 18, Ed Jones, 26, Sam Hunt Racing 
  • 19, Alex Labbe, 91, DGM Racing 
  • 20, Parker Retzlaff, 31, Jordan Anderson Racing 
  • 21, Jeremy Clements, 51, Jeremy Clements Racing 
  • 22, Parker Kligerman, 48, Big Machine Racing 
  • 23, Josh Williams, 11, Kaulig Racing 
  • 24, Brennan Poole, 44, Alpha Prime Racing 
  • 25, Ryan Sieg, 28, RSS Racing 
  • 26, Matt DiBenedetto, 38, RSS Racing 
  • 27, Jeb Burton, 27, Jordan Anderson Racing 
  • 28, Sage Karam, 07, SS GreenLight Racing 
  • 29, Preston Pardus, 50, Pardus Racing Inc. 
  • 30, Ryan Ellis, 43, Alpha Prime Racing 
  • 31, Brad Perez, 45, Alpha Prime Racing 
  • 32, Thomas Annunziata, 35, Joey Gase Motorsports 
  • 33, Leland Honeyman, 42, Young’s Motorsports 
  • 34, Blaine Perkins, 29, RSS Racing 
  • 35, Kyle Sieg, 39, RSS Racing 
  • 36, Dylan Lupton, 15, AM Racing 
  • 37, Dawson Cram, 92, DGM Racing 
  • 38, Nathan Byrd, 14, SS GreenLight Racing

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Author photo
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.  

Get to know Jeff Hawkins better
Author photo
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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