Retzlaff Steals The Show In Martinsville Xfinity Qualifying

Parker Retzlaff celebrates the NASCAR Xfinity Series pole Friday at Martinsville Speedway. (Jacob Seelman photo)

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – In a race where track position for playoff contenders could be crucial to success, it was a non-playoff driver that stole the show during NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying Friday evening.

Jordan Anderson Racing’s Parker Retzlaff turned the fastest lap around Martinsville Speedway en route to the pole for the National Debt Relief 250, touring the .526-mile paper clip in 19.901 seconds (95.151 mph) with his No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet Camaro.

It’s his second pole in 74 Xfinity Series starts, both of which have come this season. He’s chasing a maiden victory at a track where he finished seventh a year ago.

“I didn’t know if it was going to stand, to be honest,” said Retzlaff. “I thought we’d need to be in the (19.)80s to get the job done, and that was our goal going into the session … but it stuck and we’re going to try and carry the momentum into the race.

“The track seems kind of similar to April; it just slowed down a bit, I think,” he added. “We’re working on our car in race trim, but if we can lead some laps, I think we can really open some eyes tomorrow. We’ve had speed at times this year and just haven’t really been able to finish things out, so I’m happy we got another pole for a smaller team, but now we want to make a splash after 250 laps on Saturday.”

Joining Retzlaff on the front row will be Our Motorsports’ Anthony Alfredo, another non-playoff driver, who posted a time of 19.913 seconds (95.094 mph) in the No. 5 Dead On Tools Chevrolet Camaro.

The eight playoff drivers all landed among the first six rows, with Chandler Smith, rookie Jesse Love, Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, and Sammy Smith qualifying third through seventh, respectively.

Sheldon Creed starts eighth, trailed by his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Aric Almirola and defending series champion Cole Custer. A.J. Allmendinger and Sam Mayer closed out the top 12 in qualifying.

Notables starting deeper in the field include Riley Herbst (13th), rookie William Sawalich (15th), short-track ace Bubba Pollard (17th), Shane van Gisbergen (20th), and Myatt Snider (22nd).

With 38 drivers entered for 38 starting spots, no drivers failed to make the show, though Ryan Sieg did not make a timed lap in qualifying due to a right-front brake line issue and will start last as a result.

Broadcast coverage of Saturday’s National Debt Relief 250 is slated for 4 p.m. ET, live on The CW, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.