NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Qualifying: McGuire Stays Hot – Starting lineup for DRIVE4COPD 125

Michael McGuire warmed up Bristol Motor Speedway on a cool March day.

After leading final practice, McGuire, hailing from Vinton, Va., earned his first career 21 Means 21 presented by Coors Brewing Pole Award in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East qualifying for the DRIVE4COPD 125 on Thursday. He recorded a 15.898-second lap that translates to an average speed of 120.694 mph on the .533-mile high-banked oval. It’s just the fourth series career start for the driver of the No. 7 Wood Towing & Transportation/BTS Toyota.

The cool temperatures aided in 14 cars besting the track record of 16.150 seconds (118.811 mph) established a year ago by Nelson Piquet Jr. in the inaugural Bristol visit for the series.

Starting alongside McGuire on the front row will be Dylan Presnell, who posted a time of 15.963 seconds (120.203 mph).

Posting the third-quickest qualifying time was Ben Kennedy with a time of 15.973 seconds (120.128 mph) followed by Jesse Little, who timed in at 15.979 seconds (120.083 mph).

Dylan Kwasniewski, Brett Moffitt, Bryan Ortiz, Ryan Gifford, Sam Hunt and Jimmy Weller rounded out the top-10 qualifiers on the day.

Alx Danielsson, Matt Tifft, John Salemi and Chuck Buchanan Jr. failed to make the 36-car starting lineup.

Twenty-one of the 36 cars will be piloted by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders while 12 of those will be making their official NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut.

The DRIVE4COPD 125 is slated to take the green flag on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. ET. The K&N Pro Series East has no on-track activity scheduled for Friday.

STARTING LINEUP

1. (7) Michael McGuire, Vinton, Va., Toyota, 120.694

2. (26) Dylan Presnell, Sevierville, Tenn., Toyota, 120.203

3. (96) Ben Kennedy, Daytona Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 120.128

4. (97) Jesse Little, Sherrils Ford, N.C., Chevrolet, 120.083

5. (98) Dylan Kwasniewski, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 119.962

6. (11) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Toyota, 119.760

7. (4) Bryan Ortiz, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Toyota, 119.753

8. (18) Sam Hunt, Midlothian, Va., Toyota, 119.477

9. (31) Jimmy Weller, Hubbard, Ohio, Toyota, 119.410

10. (2) Ryan Gifford, Winchester, Tenn., Toyota, 119.358

11. (33) Brandon Jones, Atlanta, Ga., Chevrolet, 119.328

12. (37) Chad Finchum, Knoxville, Tenn., Chevrolet, 119.180

13. (20) Gray Gaulding, Statesville, N.C., Toyota, 119.099

14. (52) Tyler Reddick, Corning, Calif., Dodge, 118.958

15. (77) Austin Self, Austin, Tex., Dodge, 118.723

16. (10) Preston Peltier, Frazier Park, Calif., Toyota, 118.701

17. (00) Cole Custer, Ladera Ranch, Calif., Chevrolet, 118.694

18. (39) CJ Faison, Seaford, Del, Chevrolet, 118.518

19. (25) Justin Boston, Sparks, Md., Toyota, 118.474

20. (5) Steven Legendre, Danville, Vt., Chevrolet, 118.423

21. (41) Ben Rhodes, Louisville, Ky., Chevrolet, 118.269

22. (1) Nate Caruth, Ames, Iowa, Dodge, 118.204

23. (13) Austin Hill, Winston, Ga., Toyota, 118.189

24. (6) Daniel Suarez, Monterrey, Mexico, Toyota, 118.182

25. (21) Mackena Bell, Carson City, Nev., Toyota, 117.624

26. (99) Austin Dyne, Malibu, Calif., Chevrolet, 117.610

27. (80) Blake Jones, Sevierville, Tenn., Chevrolet, 117.538

28. (72) Scott Heckert, Ridgefield, Conn., Chevrolet, 117.394

29. (34) Kenzie Ruston, El Reno, Okla., Chevrolet, 117.214

30. (71) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Toyota, 116.950

31. (90) Martin Roy, Napierville, Quebec, Canada, Chevrolet, 116.808

32. (0) Enrique Contreras, III, Mexico City, Mexico, Toyota, 116.192

33. (46) Brandon Gdovic, Yorktown, Va., Toyota, 115.947 *

34. (49) Ray Courtemanche Jr., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Toyota, 111.293 *

35. (47) Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va., Toyota, No speed *

36. (12) Brandon Glover, Cuba, N.Y., Dodge, 115.181 *

Did Not Qualify:

37. (73) Alx Danielsson, Froson, Sweden, Chevrolet, 114.871

38. (89) Matthew Tifft, Hinckley, Ohio, Chevrolet, 114.816

39. (63) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Toyota, 114.685

40. (19) Chuck Buchanan Jr., Hildebrand, N.C., Chevrolet, 107.925

* Provisional Starter

NASCAR PR