Chandler Smith Secures Daytona Xfinity Series Pole

Chandler Smith in action at Daytona Int'l Speedway Friday. (John Harrelson/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith landed the pole for the Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona Int’l Speedway Friday in a shortened NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying session.

Driving the No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra, Smith posted a lap of 49.672 seconds (181.189 mph) around the 2.5-mile oval to earn his fourth career Xfinity Series pole and first of the season.

Originally scheduled for two rounds of single-lap time trials, the second session for the top 10 runners was scrapped after lightning was reported inside the safety radius of the World Center of Racing around 4:15 p.m. ET.

That set the starting grid by the lone round that was fully completed. It also snapped an eight-year Daytona pole drought for the Japanese manufacturer in the Xfinity Series.

Smith will be joined on the front row Friday night by Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, whose No. 21 Bennett Transportation/Global Industrial Chevrolet Camaro toured Daytona in 49.690 seconds (181.123 mph) to qualify second.

Prior to Friday, Chevrolet had won the last six Daytona Xfinity Series pole positions, a run which dated back to Aug. 28, 2021.

Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger, a past series winner at the World Center of Racing, starts third alongside Smith’s teammate Joe Graf Jr., with February Daytona pole winner Jesse Love lining up fifth.

Filling out the first five rows of the grid are Ryan Truex, Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, Anthony Alfredo, and longtime Xfinity Series journeyman Josh Williams, who turned in his best-ever Daytona qualifying effort.

Drivers gridded deeper in the field include Justin Allgaier (11th), who missed the top 10 by .021 seconds, Jeremy Clements (13th), defending series champion Cole Custer (14th), Brandon Jones (16th), Shane van Gisbergen (19th), Sammy Smith (24th), and Jordan Anderson (25th).

With 38 cars on the property for 38 starting spots, everyone in attendance made the show.

The only driver who failed to make a full-speed qualifying lap was JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer, who experienced a gear issue while shifting and getting up to speed in the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro.

Mayer’s lap was six-and-a-half seconds slower than the next car ahead of him, meaning he’ll start last in the 38-car field in pursuit of his third win of the season.

Broadcast coverage of Friday night’s Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET, live on USA, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.