Elliott Starts Pocono Double Dip With Xfinity Pole

Chase Elliott poses with the Kennametal Pole Award at Pocono Raceway Saturday. (Peter Casey/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

LONG POND, Pa. – Chase Elliott is running double duty this weekend at Pocono Raceway, and he made the extra track time count early by winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series pole in qualifying Saturday.

The 29-year-old from Dawsonville, Ga., set a fast lap of 54.209 seconds (166.024 mph), which was .161 seconds better than the next best time ahead of the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250.

It marks Elliott’s first Xfinity Series pole since 2014 at Atlanta (now EchoPark) Motor Speedway and just the third pole of his career at NASCAR’s second-highest level, where he hasn’t run full-time since 2015.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it was going to be good enough to hold up when I ran the lap,” admitted Elliott afterward. “I had a really good (turn) three and just kind of an OK (turn) one and tunnel (turn). So I definitely think that going out early was probably a good thing. It's been getting warmer as we’ve gone along, but great to get a pole. I haven't had a pole in … I don’t even know how long, so it’s nice to do that in any circumstance.

“I appreciate everybody on the HendrickCars.com team for letting me drive, first off, and having this car so strong. They’ve done a really good job getting the program to where it is today,” he added. “But it’s nice to have a good starting spot, and now we’ll try to make the most of it.

Starting to Elliott’s outside is Brandon Jones in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota GR Supra, tying Jones’ best qualifying result this season, as he also qualified second at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in April.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take to get that last little spot,” Jones said. “I’ve been close so many times (to another pole). I’m really proud of our guys for digging in deep over these last couple (rough) weeks that we’ve had and still showing up with speed. We’ve been off a little bit on our short run speed ever since our Darlington win, and just been struggling to unload with good speed early … though we’re always a fast car at the end of the race. So, I’m glad we closed the gap up this weekend on them again and showed up with something that should be capable of winning the race.

“I feel like this is going to be an interesting one,” he continued. “I ran the Truck (Series) race last night (finishing fourth) and I feel like that was a benefit for me, just understanding where the restart lanes are and where you want to make your passes at. I feel like I’ve already got one up on the field … and I’m really looking forward to trying to get another win this season.”

An all-rookie second row finds the No. 48 of Nick Sanchez and the No. 18 of William Sawalich in third and fourth, respectively, looking to make a mark in both of their first starts at Pocono.

Row three consists of the Ford Mustangs of Ryan Sieg and Sam Mayer, followed by Taylor Gray and Justin Allgaier in row four.

Rounding out the top 10 are two of the best friends in the series, the Chevrolets of JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch and Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love.

It was a qualifying round to forget for the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet of Carson Kvapil, who struggled mightily and will start all the way back in 22nd.

Both Kyle Sieg and Logan Bearden did not set a time in the qualifying session, but will still start the race as there were no DNQs with just 38 cars entered for the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250.

Broadcast coverage of the Xfinity Series at Pocono airs live at 3:30 p.m. ET on The CW, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.