Chandler Smith Sizzles Late For Bristol Xfinity Pole

Chandler Smith celebrates his NASCAR Xfinity Series pole Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. (HHP/Jim Fluharty photo)

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Though he was the final driver to take time in NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying Friday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway, Chandler Smith wasted no time in finding speed at The Last Great Colosseum.

With a lap of 15.810 seconds (121.366 mph) in the No. 81 Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing, Smith earned the pole for the Food City 300, the Xfinity Series’ regular season finale.

He’s already locked into the playoff field by virtue of a pair of wins early in the season, but Smith would like nothing more than to add to his bonus point tally going into the seven-race championship stretch.

“A really great lap there,” said Smith after securing his fifth career Xfinity Series pole and second of the year. “Our Mobil 1 Supra has been as fast as Xfinity internet all day so far, and Bristol is a track I’ve always enjoyed running at. Track position is key in these short-track races early, so we’re looking forward to racing under the lights tonight and seeing if we can get a sword for the trophy case.”

The 22-year-old from Talking Rock, Ga., has one previous Bristol Xfinity Series start, finishing fifth last September with Kaulig Racing. He did win on the concrete high banks in 2021 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Joining Smith on the front row will be defending series champion Cole Custer, who timed in second fastest with the No. 00 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing at 15.925 seconds (120.490 mph).

“I thought we were really good in practice,” said Custer. “Our Ford Mustang had really strong long-run speed and short-run speed; we were just a tick too tight [on the qualifying run]. There was definitely a chance that someone could run a better lap, and Chandler did.”

Anthony Alfredo, who led the way for much of the session in Our Motorsports’ No. 5 Dumpkin Spice Dude Wipes Chevrolet Camaro, ended up third with a best lap of 15.935 seconds (120.414 mph)

Justin Allgaier, who hopes to lock down his second regular season championship in the Xfinity Series Friday night, will start from the outside of row two (15.945/120.339). A.J. Allmendinger completed the top five for Kaulig Racing.

Sixth through 10th in qualifying were Sam Hunt Racing’s Jeffrey Earnhardt, owner-driver Jeremy Clements, JR Motorsports’ Brandon Jones, DGM Racing’s Kyle Weatherman, and Richard Childress Racing rookie Jesse Love.

Notables starting deeper in the field include Parker Kligerman (11th), playoff hopeful Ryan Sieg (12th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (13th), Sheldon Creed (14th), Riley Herbst (15th), Austin Hill (17th), Sam Mayer (20th), Sammy Smith (21st), Austin Green (28th), and Shane van Gisbergen (34th).

Sieg likely has to win in order to secure his Xfinity Series playoff berth, while Earnhardt revealed during a midday media availability that Friday night could be the final NASCAR start of his Hall of Fame career.

With 39 cars entered for 38 starting spots, Mike Harmon Racing’s Dawson Cram was the lone driver who failed to qualify.

Broadcast coverage of the Food City 300 is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET, live on The CW, the Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.