By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — A flawless entry into pit road during Friday’s time trials propelled Brad Keselowski to the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
In a unique qualifying format that features three laps and a four-tire pit stop, Keselowski and his team posted a total time of 87.363 seconds (77.264 mph) to earn the top starting spot both for Saturday’s first of two heats and for the $1-million-to-win main event on Sunday.
In a major upset during the All-Star Open qualifying session that preceded time trials for drivers already qualified for the All-Star Race, Michael McDowell’s over-the-wall crew, composed of ex-football players, won the $100,000 Pit Crew Challenge.
The No. 71 Spire Motorsports crew fired off a stop in 12.587 seconds, and that time stood up against the 20 All-Star crews that followed. Daniel Suarez’s crew came closest with a lap in 12.600 seconds.
For Keselowski, the pole was a welcome high point in a season that has been difficult so far. He’s currently 33rd in the Cup Series standings, with no top 10s and five DNFs (did not finish) through 12 races.
“This event, this format pushes you to your limits, from a driver perspective, a team perspective, pit crew,” Keselowski said. “I stuck my part—I knew I stuck the entry (to pit road). The exit, I was like ‘Maybe I left a little on the table’—it’s really hard to tell.
“But it all came together for an excellent run. The pit crew, they didn’t try to be heroes. They just gave me a really solid stop. (Crew chief) Jeremy Bullins and the team gave me a car that was pretty fast. They just gave me the ball and said, ‘Go play,’ and that’s what we did.”
Christopher Bell and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team, the two-time defending winners of the Pit Crew Challenge, qualified second at 76.485 mph (88.253 seconds). Slight trouble on the left front tire cost Bell’s crew a chance for a third straight $100,000 bonus.
Alex Bowman was third fastest, followed by Chase Briscoe, William Byron and defending winner and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano.
Though Keselowski is guaranteed to start on the pole for the All-Star Race, Friday’s qualifying session set the order for the two heat races on Saturday. The first heat establishes the starting order for the inside row in the All-Star Race, while the second heat orders the outside row.
Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Chase Elliott were seventh-through 10th fastest, respectively.
Using his road racing prowess to get on and off pit road in the unique qualifying format, New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen won the pole position for the NASCAR All-Star Open, which precedes the All-Star Race on Sunday night.
The top two finishers in the Open transfer to the 21st and 22nd starting positions in the main event.
In his three-lap attempt with a four-tire pit stop, Van Gisbergen recorded a time of 88.685 seconds (75.112 mph). That was good enough to edge Carson Hocevar (75.942 mph) for the top starting spot in the Open by 0.199 seconds.
Van Gisbergen’s total time also was 1.109 seconds faster than Logano’s pole-winning time for last year’s All-Star Race, which Logano won decisively, leading 199 of 200 laps.
“I did a decent job getting in and out of pit road,” Van Gisbergen said, “but my guys did a great pit stop, too (13.175 seconds)… It’s been difficult on the left-handed tracks, but I feel like we are getting better, though.
“I guess my actual lap was good, too, so things are starting to look up.”
Noah Gragson was third-fastest among Open qualifiers at 75.338 mph. Michael McDowell was fourth in time trials, thanks in part to his pit crew, which won the Pit Crew Competition and $100,000 bonus.
Crew members on McDowell’s team are Dax Hollifield (jackman), Max Marsh (front tire changer), Ty Boeck (rear tire changer), Luke Bussel (tire carrier) and Brandon Chapman (fueler).
