Custer Tops in Bristol Xfinity Qualifying

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Hellmann's Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 15, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

(BRISTOL, TN – SEPT 15, 2023 – RIS) Cole Custer ruled qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 200, running his Mobil 1 Mustang to a lap of 15.684 seconds at 122.341 mph to beat out Josh Berry for pole by 0.028 second. John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith and Daniel Hemric balance out the top five qualifiers for Friday’s race.

Conor Mosack set the fastest time in the first practice group, at 16.131 seconds/118.951 mph, just 25 thousandths qu9cker than Dale Earnhardt Jr’s time. A few laps later, Mosack touched the wall exiting a turn and spent the rest of the session in the pits with his crew checking the car for damage. Ryan Sieg, Riley Herbst and Jeffrey Earnhardt were the rest of the top five in group one.

In the second group, Jeb Burton walled the right side of his No. 27 Chevy, briefly halting the session and driving to the pits for repairs. “It definitely bent the front clip,” he reported, adding that something had rubbed on the inside of the tire and the team will have to pull out their backup car for qualifying. Cole Custer beat Mosack’s time by nine thousandths to climb to the top of the charts, with Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Trevor Bayne all beating Mosack’s time before Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek and Brandon Jones recording practice times quicker than Mosack’s. Late in the session, Chandler Smith pipped Custer for quickest time by nine thousandths of a second,  When the session ended, Smth, Custer, Nemechek, Jones, Allgaier, Austin Hill, Sammy Smith, Parker Kligerman , Trevor Bayne and Sam Mayer were the top ten on the combined time sheet.

Dale Earnhardt Jr led the field onto the track in qualifying, setting the first lap under 16 seconds, with his second lap slightly quicker at 15.911 seconds and 120.596 mph. Rajah Caruth, making his first Xfinity start, ran a 16.066/119.432 lap, followed by Timmy Hill at 16.211/118.364.

Josh Bilicki had a major slip on his first lap but recovered to set the second quick lap so far at 16.058. Stefan Parsons’ second lap was quicker than his first, at 16.214/118.342, then Kyle Weatherman hit the track, turning in a lap of 16.112/119.091. Joe Graf Jr joined Earnhardt with a sub-160second lap at 15.982/120.060

BJ McLeod’s team announced that the car was withdrawn, meaning that every car attempting to qualify will make the field. 

Blaine Perkins reported that his car was ‘way too tight’ and set a lap of 16.175/118.628. Jeffrey Earnhardt, next on the track, moved into second on the chart at 15.936/120.407, then Chad Finchum  moved into fourth at 16.039/119.63 before Kyle Sieg recorded a lap of 16.081/119.321, then Brennan Poole hit the track and set a time of 16.095/119.217. Anthony Alfredo’s second lap was a 16.117/119.054, reporting that he was ‘way too loose,” on the radio.

Ryan Sieg jumped to the top of the post at 15.793/121.497 to bump Jeffrey Earnhardt off the front row. Ryan Ellis’ lap was fifth fast so far, at 16.038/119.641, just a thousandth of a second quicker than Finchum’s lap.

Connor Mosack recorded a lap of 16.112, followed by Riley Herbst, who moved into third place on the time sheets at 15.917/120.550, breaking the link between the Earnhardt cousins. Jeremy Clements ran 15.801/121.435 to put Dale Jr on the second row, with Josh Williams next out lap of 16.019/119.783 with a car that was just “a tick tight.”

Kaz Grala ran a 16.115/119.069, followed by Parker Retzlaff’s lap of 15.899/120.687 was good for third place. A “very, very loose” Brett Moffitt managed to turn a lap of 16.222/118.284. Derek Kraus hit the track next at 15.965/120.188, then Brandon Jones moved to the front row at 15.800/121.443. Sam Mayer had a ‘moment’ and still recorded the fourth-quickest time at 15.816/121.320 before Daniel Hemric vaulted to the top at 15.788/121.535, followed onto the track by Sammy Smith who ran into second place at 15.792/121.505 for his lap. Chandler Smith’s lap of 15.740/121.906 moved him to the top position, then Trevor Bayne moved to eighth at 15.843/121.113.

Cole Custer, in a Kevin Harvick throwback paint scheme, recorded a better lap of 15.684/122.341 for the first lap over 122 mph and top on the chart so far. Justin Allgaier ran a 15.807/121.389, then Parker Kligerman clocked a lap of 15.860/120.984, then Josh Berry hit the track and recorded a 15.886/120.786 for his qualifying effort. Sheldon Creed ran a 16.028/119.715 with Austin Hill next on the track with a lap only good enough for 25th at 16.068/119.417. John Hunter Nemechek was the last car on the track, setting a time putting him in third place on the grid at 15.717/122.084. Patrick Emerling and Jeb Burton did not make qualifying attempts and will start at the back of the field after McLeod’s withdrawal from the race.

Practice: Food City 300, Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Chandler Smith # (P), No. 16 Barger Precast/Quick Tie Products Inc. , 16.038 sec, 119.641 mph, 16, 18, ---, ---
2) Cole Custer (P), No. 00 Mobil 1 Ford, 16.047, 119.574, 3, 24, -0.009 sec, -0.009 sec
3) John Hunter Nemechek (P), No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, 16.076, 119.358, 9, 41, -0.038, -0.029
4) Brandon Jones, No. 9 Menards/Patriot Lighting Chevrolet, 16.086, 119.284, 6, 30, -0.048, -0.010
5) Justin Allgaier (P), No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet, 16.096, 119.210, 14, 28, -0.058, -0.010
6) Austin Hill (P), No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, 16.106, 119.136, 9, 41, -0.068, -0.010
7) Sammy Smith # (P), No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota, 16.121, 119.025, 5, 38, -0.083, -0.015
8) Parker Kligerman (P), No. 48 Spiked Light Coolers Chevrolet, 16.123, 119.010, 10, 20, -0.085, -0.002
9) Trevor Bayne (P), No. 19 He Gets Us Toyota, 16.124, 119.003, 5, 25, -0.086, -0.001
10) Sam Mayer (P), No. 1 Huck's Market Chevrolet, 16.124, 119.003, 7, 29, -0.086, -0.000
11) Connor Mosack, No. 24 Toyota Racing Development Toyota, 16.131, 118.951, 13, 17, -0.093, -0.007
12) Josh Berry (P), No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet, 16.149, 118.819, 18, 23, -0.111, -0.018
13) Daniel Hemric (P), No. 10 Cirkul Chevrolet, 16.153, 118.789, 11, 27, -0.115, -0.004
14) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Hellmann's Chevrolet, 16.156, 118.767, 14, 17, -0.118, -0.003
15) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 16.163, 118.716, 5, 19, -0.125, -0.007
16) Riley Herbst, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, 16.175, 118.628, 13, 24, -0.137, -0.012
17) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 45 K9Grass Chevrolet, 16.196, 118.474, 13, 20, -0.158, -0.021
18) Sheldon Creed (P), No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 16.197, 118.466, 9, 32, -0.159, -0.001
19) Parker Retzlaff #, No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet, 16.216, 118.328, 17, 29, -0.178, -0.019
20) Josh Williams, No. 92 Alloy Employer/DAN-O'S Chevrolet, 16.227, 118.247, 7, 22, -0.189, -0.011
21) Brett Moffitt, No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford, 16.229, 118.233, 12, 25, -0.191, -0.002
22) Chad Finchum, No. 08 Elite Petroleum Ford, 16.234, 118.196, 10, 10, -0.196, -0.005
23) Kyle Weatherman, No. 4 TeamJDMotorsports.com Chevrolet, 16.238, 118.167, 17, 20, -0.200, -0.004
24) Joe Graf Jr., No. 38 Food City/Bucked Up Ford, 16.257, 118.029, 19, 35, -0.219, -0.019
25) Josh Bilicki, No. 91 Insurance King/ROCK'N VODKA Chevrolet, 16.265, 117.971, 13, 24, -0.227, -0.008
26) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 All South Electric Chevrolet, 16.268, 117.949, 9, 10, -0.230, -0.003
27) Kaz Grala, No. 26 CRUSH Tropical Punch Toyota, 16.294, 117.761, 22, 24, -0.256, -0.026
28) Rajah Caruth(i), No. 44 Gilreath Farms/AAN Adjusters Chevrolet, 16.297, 117.739, 6, 16, -0.259, -0.003
29) Derek Kraus, No. 11 Crav'n Flavor/Hardscape Construction Chevrolet, 16.297, 117.739, 16, 29, -0.259, -0.000
30) Stefan Parsons, No. 07 Sokal/Nelson's Green Brier Chevrolet, 16.306, 117.674, 18, 27, -0.268, -0.009
31) Anthony Alfredo, No. 78 Dude Wipes Chevrolet, 16.307, 117.667, 2, 2, -0.269, -0.001
32) Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Diamond Doors Assa Abloy Chevrolet, 16.322, 117.559, 9, 17, -0.284, -0.015
33) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Cooks Comfort Ford, 16.349, 117.365, 11, 19, -0.311, -0.027
34) Blaine Perkins #, No. 02 Gratis Chevrolet, 16.413, 116.907, 19, 23, -0.375, -0.064
35) Timmy Hill(i), No. 66 Coble Enterprises Toyota, 16.418, 116.872, 9, 11, -0.380, -0.005
36) BJ McLeod, No. 53 The Meredith Haga Foundation Chevrolet, 16.430, 116.786, 8, 11, -0.392, -0.012
37) Patrick Emerling, No. 35 Sci Aps Chevrolet, 16.454, 116.616, 6, 6, -0.416, -0.024
38) Brennan Poole, No. 6 Macc Door Systems Chevrolet, 16.460, 116.574, 12, 23, -0.422, -0.006
39) Jeb Burton (P), No. 27 Alsco Uniforms Chevrolet, 20.247, 94.770, 1, 1, -4.209, -3.787

Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average
Pos, Driver, Car, From Lap, To Lap, Avg Speed
1) Brandon Jones, No. 9 Menards/Patriot Lighting Chevrolet, 6, 15, 118.733 mph
2) Cole Custer (P), No. 00 Mobil 1 Ford, 3, 12, 118.708
3) Sammy Smith # (P), No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota, 4, 13, 118.508
4) John Hunter Nemechek (P), No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, 4, 13, 118.505
5) Austin Hill (P), No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, 6, 15, 118.181
6) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 10, 19, 118.082
7) Sam Mayer (P), No. 1 Huck's Market Chevrolet, 12, 21, 117.942
8) Parker Kligerman (P), No. 48 Spiked Light Coolers Chevrolet, 8, 17, 117.788
9) Riley Herbst, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, 12, 21, 117.590
10) Josh Bilicki, No. 91 Insurance King/ROCK'N VODKA Chevrolet, 11, 20, 117.544
11) Parker Retzlaff #, No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet, 13, 22, 117.537
12) Sheldon Creed (P), No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 5, 14, 117.419
13) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 45 K9Grass Chevrolet, 11, 20, 117.281
14) Stefan Parsons, No. 07 Sokal/Nelson's Green Brier Chevrolet, 14, 23, 117.082
15) Joe Graf Jr., No. 38 Food City/Bucked Up Ford, 21, 30, 116.902
16) Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Diamond Doors Assa Abloy Chevrolet, 8, 17, 116.836
17) Brett Moffitt, No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford, 16, 25, 116.831
18) Justin Allgaier (P), No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet, 18, 27, 116.805
19) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Cooks Comfort Ford, 10, 19, 116.800
20) Derek Kraus, No. 11 Crav'n Flavor/Hardscape Construction Chevrolet, 20, 29, 116.706
21) Connor Mosack, No. 24 Toyota Racing Development Toyota, 1, 10, 116.094
22) Brennan Poole, No. 6 Macc Door Systems Chevrolet, 11, 20, 115.855
23) Daniel Hemric (P), No. 10 Cirkul Chevrolet, 17, 26, 115.784
Must run 10 consecutive laps to be included

Time Trial Results: Food City 300 - Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Team, Time, Speed, Lap #, -Fastest, -Next
1) Cole Custer (P), No. 00 Mobil 1 Ford, 15.684 sec, 122.341 mph, 1, ---, ---
2) Josh Berry (P), No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet, 15.712, 122.123, 2, 0.028 sec, 0.028 sec
3) John Hunter Nemechek (P), No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, 15.717, 122.084, 1, 0.033, 0.005
4) Chandler Smith # (P), No. 16 Barger Precast/Quick Tie Products Inc. , 15.740, 121.906, 2, 0.056, 0.023
5) Daniel Hemric (P), No. 10 Cirkul Chevrolet, 15.788, 121.535, 1, 0.104, 0.048
6) Sammy Smith # (P), No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota, 15.792, 121.505, 2, 0.108, 0.004
7) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 15.793, 121.497, 2, 0.109, 0.001
8) Brandon Jones, No. 9 Menards/Patriot Lighting Chevrolet, 15.800, 121.443, 1, 0.116, 0.007
9) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 All South Electric Chevrolet, 15.801, 121.435, 2, 0.117, 0.001
10) Justin Allgaier (P), No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet, 15.807, 121.389, 2, 0.123, 0.006
11) Sam Mayer (P), No. 1 Huck's Market Chevrolet, 15.816, 121.320, 1, 0.132, 0.009
12) Trevor Bayne (P), No. 19 He Gets Us Toyota, 15.843, 121.113, 1, 0.159, 0.027
13) Parker Kligerman (P), No. 48 Spiked Light Coolers Chevrolet, 15.860, 120.984, 2, 0.176, 0.017
14) Parker Retzlaff #, No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet, 15.899, 120.687, 2, 0.215, 0.039
15) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Hellmann's Chevrolet, 15.911, 120.596, 2, 0.227, 0.012
16) Riley Herbst, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, 15.917, 120.550, 1, 0.233, 0.006
17) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 45 K9Grass Chevrolet, 15.936, 120.407, 2, 0.252, 0.019
18) Derek Kraus, No. 11 Crav'n Flavor/Hardscape Construction , 15.965, 120.188, 2, 0.281, 0.029
19) Joe Graf Jr., No. 38 Food City/Bucked Up Ford, 15.982, 120.060, 1, 0.298, 0.017
20) Josh Williams, No. 92 Alloy Employer/DAN-O'S Chevrolet, 16.019, 119.783, 2, 0.335, 0.037
21) Sheldon Creed (P), No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 16.028, 119.715, 2, 0.344, 0.009
22) Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Diamond Doors Assa Abloy Chevrolet, 16.038, 119.641, 2, 0.354, 0.010
23) Chad Finchum, No. 08 Elite Petroleum Ford, 16.039, 119.633, 1, 0.355, 0.001
24) Josh Bilicki, No. 91 Insurance King/ROCK'N VODKA Chevrolet, 16.058, 119.492, 1, 0.374, 0.019
25) Rajah Caruth(i), No. 44 Gilreath Farms/AAN Adjusters Chevrolet, 16.066, 119.432, 2, 0.382, 0.008
26) Austin Hill (P), No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, 16.068, 119.417, 1, 0.384, 0.002
27) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Cooks Comfort Ford, 16.081, 119.321, 1, 0.397, 0.013
28) Brennan Poole, No. 6 Macc Door Systems Chevrolet, 16.095, 119.217, 1, 0.411, 0.014
29) Connor Mosack, No. 24 Toyota Racing Development Toyota, 16.112, 119.091, 2, 0.428, 0.017
30) Kyle Weatherman, No. 4 TeamJDMotorsports.com Chevrolet, 16.112, 119.091, 1, 0.428, 0.000
31) Kaz Grala, No. 26 CRUSH Tropical Punch Toyota, 16.115, 119.069, 2, 0.431, 0.003
32) Anthony Alfredo, No. 78 Dude Wipes Chevrolet, 16.117, 119.054, 1, 0.433, 0.002
33) Blaine Perkins #, No. 02 Gratis Chevrolet, 16.175, 118.628, 2, 0.491, 0.058
34) Timmy Hill(i), No. 66 Coble Enterprises Toyota, 16.211, 118.364, 2, 0.527, 0.036
35) Stefan Parsons, No. 07 Sokal/Nelson's Green Brier Chevrolet, 16.214, 118.342, 1, 0.530, 0.003
36) Brett Moffitt, No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford, 16.222, 118.284, 2, 0.538, 0.008
37) Patrick Emerling, No. 35 Sci Aps Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000, 0, -----, -----
38) Jeb Burton (P), No. 27 Alsco Uniforms Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000, 0, -----, -----
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Starting Line Up: Food City 300 - Bristol Motor Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Cole Custer (P), No. 00 Mobil 1 Ford, 15.684 sec, 122.341 mph
2) Josh Berry (P), No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet, 15.712, 122.123
3) John Hunter Nemechek (P), No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, 15.717, 122.084
4) Chandler Smith # (P), No. 16 Barger Precast/Quick Tie Products Inc. , 15.740, 121.906
5) Daniel Hemric (P), No. 10 Cirkul Chevrolet, 15.788, 121.535
6) Sammy Smith # (P), No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota, 15.792, 121.505
7) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 15.793, 121.497
8) Brandon Jones, No. 9 Menards/Patriot Lighting Chevrolet, 15.800, 121.443
9) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 All South Electric Chevrolet, 15.801, 121.435
10) Justin Allgaier (P), No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet, 15.807, 121.389
11) Sam Mayer (P), No. 1 Huck's Market Chevrolet, 15.816, 121.320
12) Trevor Bayne (P), No. 19 He Gets Us Toyota, 15.843, 121.113
13) Parker Kligerman (P), No. 48 Spiked Light Coolers Chevrolet, 15.860, 120.984
14) Parker Retzlaff #, No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet, 15.899, 120.687
15) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Hellmann's Chevrolet, 15.911, 120.596
16) Riley Herbst, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, 15.917, 120.550
17) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 45 K9Grass Chevrolet, 15.936, 120.407
18) Derek Kraus, No. 11 Crav'n Flavor/Hardscape Construction , 15.965, 120.188
19) Joe Graf Jr., No. 38 Food City/Bucked Up Ford, 15.982, 120.060
20) Josh Williams, No. 92 Alloy Employer/DAN-O'S Chevrolet, 16.019, 119.783
21) Sheldon Creed (P), No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 16.028, 119.715
22) Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Diamond Doors Assa Abloy Chevrolet, 16.038, 119.641
23) Chad Finchum, No. 08 Elite Petroleum Ford, 16.039, 119.633
24) Josh Bilicki, No. 91 Insurance King/ROCK'N VODKA Chevrolet, 16.058, 119.492
25) Rajah Caruth(i), No. 44 Gilreath Farms/AAN Adjusters Chevrolet, 16.066, 119.432
26) Austin Hill (P), No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, 16.068, 119.417
27) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Cooks Comfort Ford, 16.081, 119.321
28) Brennan Poole, No. 6 Macc Door Systems Chevrolet, 16.095, 119.217
29) Connor Mosack, No. 24 Toyota Racing Development Toyota, 16.112, 119.091
30) Kyle Weatherman, No. 4 TeamJDMotorsports.com Chevrolet, 16.112, 119.091
31) Kaz Grala, No. 26 CRUSH Tropical Punch Toyota, 16.115, 119.069
32) Anthony Alfredo, No. 78 Dude Wipes Chevrolet, 16.117, 119.054
33) Blaine Perkins #, No. 02 Gratis Chevrolet, 16.175, 118.628
34) Timmy Hill(i), No. 66 Coble Enterprises Toyota, 16.211, 118.364
35) Stefan Parsons, No. 07 Sokal/Nelson's Green Brier Chevrolet, 16.214, 118.342
36) Brett Moffitt, No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford, 16.222, 118.284
37) Patrick Emerling, No. 35 Sci Aps Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000
38) Jeb Burton (P), No. 27 Alsco Uniforms Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Track Qualifying Record: Kyle Larson: 04/22/17, 14.992 sec, 127.988 mph

Track Race Record: Elliott Sadler: 03/17/12 01:41:16 94.74 mph