Allmendinger set a blistering pace in the final round of Friday’s qualifying, turning a track-record average lap speed of 111.666 mph on the recently repaved 4.048-mile, 14-turn road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisc.
This is the second pole position that Allmendinger has achieved this season, and he is participating in his fourth race of the year. In his three previous races, he has always finished no lower than second place.
This year, he has emerged victorious in Austin and Nashville races, while securing a second position at Sonoma in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Xfinity car.
“I believe our Chevrolet is improving and there is still potential for further progress,” expressed Allmendinger, who will be absent from Cup practice and qualifying on Saturday at Richmond to participate in the Xfinity race. “Due to the recent track resurfacing, the circuit has undergone significant changes.”
“We completed our assignment and significantly improved (the car) during the second round. I believe there is still room for further enhancement in order to surpass our competitors tomorrow.”
Derek Kraus will be behind the wheel of the Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Cup car, number 16, while Allmendinger is away. However, Allmendinger will have to begin the race from the back of the pack. He is currently only 17 points away from qualifying for the playoffs in the Richmond Cup weekend.
Cole Custer ended up second-fastest (111.362 mph) in qualifying and Justin Allgaier – who was fastest in practice – was third (111.164 mph). Riley Herbst and Sam Mayer rounded out the top five.
Completing the top-10 in the starting lineup are Connor Mosack, Sage Karam, Kaz Grala, Sammy Smith and John Hunter Nemechek.
Allmendinger has 17 NXS victories in his career, and the first of them came at the Road America course in 2013 while driving for Team Penske.
Leave a Reply