Rookie Jesse Love Takes Daytona Pole in First Xfinity Start, United Rentals 300 Delayed to Monday Morning

(DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEB 17, 2024 – RIS) In his first series start, 19-year-old series rookie Jesse Love took the pole for the United Rentals 300 NASCAR Xfinity race at Daytona International Speedway, pipping fellow Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Hill by only three thousandths of a second. His lap of 49.702 seconds at 181.079 mph was just enough to beat out Austin Hill, winner of the last two Xfinity season opening races at Daytona

Starting third will be AJ Allmendinger with a qualifying lap of 49.779/180.799. “SVG” Shane Van Gisbergen, winner of last season’s Chicago street race in the Cup series, qualified fifth, also in the 49-second range. 

Persistent rain after qualifying finished forced postponement of the race, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, to Monday morning at 11:00. The rain also forced cancellation of the final Cup practice session. Sunday’s forecast currently appears to call for continued rains, so the Daytona 500 may be affected by weather as well.

Time Trial Results: United Rentals 300, Daytona International Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Jesse Love #, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 49.702 sec, 181.079 mph, ---, ---
2) Austin Hill, No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, 49.705, 181.068, 0.003 sec, 0.003 sec
3) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet, 49.779, 180.799, 0.077, 0.074
4) Parker Kligerman, No. 48 Spiked Lite Coolers Chevrolet, 49.788, 180.766, 0.086, 0.009
5) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 49.830, 180.614, 0.128, 0.042
6) Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet, 49.873, 180.458, 0.171, 0.043
7) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 One Stop/All South Electric Chevrolet, 49.921, 180.285, 0.219, 0.048
8) John Hunter Nemechek(i), No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, 49.938, 180.223, 0.236, 0.017
9) Parker Retzlaff, No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet, 49.963, 180.133, 0.261, 0.025
10) Anthony Alfredo, No. 5 Dude Wipes Chevrolet, 50.017, 179.939, 0.315, 0.054
11) Riley Herbst, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, 50.019, 179.932, 0.317, 0.002
12) Sammy Smith, No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet, 50.032, 179.885, 0.330, 0.013
13) Patrick Emerling, No. 07 Phillips Hunt Walker Chevrolet, 50.035, 179.874, 0.333, 0.003
14) Sheldon Creed, No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota, 50.039, 179.860, 0.337, 0.004
15) Sam Mayer, No. 1 Carolina Carports Chevrolet, 50.056, 179.799, 0.354, 0.017
16) Jeb Burton, No. 27 Golden Corral Chevrolet, 50.081, 179.709, 0.379, 0.025
17) Cole Custer, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford, 50.087, 179.687, 0.385, 0.006
18) Daniel Suarez(i), No. 14 Wendy's Chevrolet, 50.094, 179.662, 0.392, 0.007
19) Chandler Smith, No. 81 Mobil 1 Toyota, 50.106, 179.619, 0.404, 0.012
20) Ryan Truex, No. 19 Toyota SmartPath Toyota, 50.111, 179.601, 0.409, 0.005
21) Josh Williams, No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet, 50.123, 179.558, 0.421, 0.012
22) Brandon Jones, No. 9 Menards/Swiffer Chevrolet, 50.124, 179.555, 0.422, 0.001
23) Garrett Smithley, No. 6 Z&M Harley Davidson Chevrolet, 50.124, 179.555, 0.422, 0.000
24) Leland Honeyman #, No. 42 Ohio Logistics Chevrolet, 50.127, 179.544, 0.425, 0.003
25) Kyle Weatherman, No. 91 DriveSmartWarranty.com Chevrolet, 50.159, 179.429, 0.457, 0.032
26) Daniel Dye(i), No. 10 Champion Containers Chevrolet, 50.297, 178.937, 0.595, 0.138
27) Josh Bilicki, No. 92 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 50.367, 178.688, 0.665, 0.070
28) Hailie Deegan #, No. 15 Klutch Vodka Ford, 50.380, 178.642, 0.678, 0.013
29) Jordan Anderson, No. 32 Capital City Towing/Bommarito Chevrolet, 50.408, 178.543, 0.706, 0.028
30) Natalie Decker, No. 36 Amped Fitness Chevrolet, 50.418, 178.508, 0.716, 0.010
31) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps/Scrap University Ford, 50.427, 178.476, 0.725, 0.009
32) Sage Karam, No. 26 CRC Brakleen Toyota, 50.429, 178.469, 0.727, 0.002
33) Brennan Poole (OP), No. 44 Finance Pro Plus Chevrolet, 50.440, 178.430, 0.738, 0.011
34) Blaine Perkins (OP), No. 29 AutoParkit.com Ford, 50.552, 178.034, 0.850, 0.112
35) Dawson Cram #, No. 4 FIRMAN Power Equipment Chevrolet, 50.685, 177.567, 0.983, 0.133
36) Ryan Ellis (OP), No. 43 Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co Chevrolet, 50.835, 177.043, 1.133, 0.150
37) Frankie Muniz (OP), No. 35 Ford Performance Ford, 50.907, 176.793, 1.205, 0.072
38) BJ McLeod (OP), No. 78 Kales Truck Heavy Equipment Chevrolet, 50.937, 176.689, 1.235, 0.030
39) Joey Gase, No. 53 NCPC Race Against Crime Chevrolet, 50.486, 178.267, 0.784, 0.451
40) Caesar Bacarella, No. 45 Prime Bites Chevrolet, 50.623, 177.785, 0.921, 0.137
41) CJ McLaughlin, No. 38 Viking Motorsports Ford, 50.738, 177.382, 1.036, 0.115
42) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Night Owl Companies Ford, 50.892, 176.845, 1.190, 0.154
43) Stanton Barrett, 74 Save22 Chevrolet, 51.539, 174.625, 1.837, 0.647
44) David Starr, 66 GreenLightPP.com Chevrolet, 0.000, 0.000, 49.702, 51.539
(#) Rookie, (*)Required to qualify on time, (OP) Top 30 in Owner Points, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Starting Line Up: United Rentals 300, Daytona International Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Jesse Love #, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 49.702 sec, 181.079 mph
2) Austin Hill, No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, 49.705, 181.068
3) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet, 49.779, 180.799
4) Parker Kligerman, No. 48 Spiked Lite Coolers Chevrolet, 49.788, 180.766
5) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 49.830, 180.614
6) Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet, 49.873, 180.458
7) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 One Stop/All South Electric Chevrolet, 49.921, 180.285
8) John Hunter Nemechek(i), No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, 49.938, 180.223
9) Parker Retzlaff, No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet, 49.963, 180.133
10) Anthony Alfredo, No. 5 Dude Wipes Chevrolet, 50.017, 179.939
11) Riley Herbst, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, 50.019, 179.932
12) Sammy Smith, No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet, 50.032, 179.885
13) Patrick Emerling, No. 07 Phillips Hunt Walker Chevrolet, 50.035, 179.874
14) Sheldon Creed, No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota, 50.039, 179.860
15) Sam Mayer, No. 1 Carolina Carports Chevrolet, 50.056, 179.799
16) Jeb Burton, No. 27 Golden Corral Chevrolet, 50.081, 179.709
17) Cole Custer, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford, 50.087, 179.687
18) Daniel Suarez(i), No. 14 Wendy's Chevrolet, 50.094, 179.662
19) Chandler Smith, No. 81 Mobil 1 Toyota, 50.106, 179.619
20) Ryan Truex, No. 19 Toyota SmartPath Toyota, 50.111, 179.601
21) Josh Williams, No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet, 50.123, 179.558
22) Brandon Jones, No. 9 Menards/Swiffer Chevrolet, 50.124, 179.555
23) Garrett Smithley, No. 6 Z&M Harley Davidson Chevrolet, 50.124, 179.555
24) Leland Honeyman #, No. 42 Ohio Logistics Chevrolet, 50.127, 179.544
25) Kyle Weatherman, No. 91 DriveSmartWarranty.com Chevrolet, 50.159, 179.429
26) Daniel Dye(i), No. 10 Champion Containers Chevrolet, 50.297, 178.937
27) Josh Bilicki, No. 92 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 50.367, 178.688
28) Hailie Deegan #, No. 15 Klutch Vodka Ford, 50.380, 178.642
29) Jordan Anderson, No. 32 Capital City Towing/Bommarito Chevrolet, 50.408, 178.543
30) Natalie Decker, No. 36 Amped Fitness Chevrolet, 50.418, 178.508
31) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps/Scrap University Ford, 50.427, 178.476
32) Sage Karam, No. 26 CRC Brakleen Toyota, 50.429, 178.469
33) Brennan Poole, No. 44 Finance Pro Plus Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
34) Blaine Perkins, No. 29 AutoParkit.com Ford, Owner Points, 
35) Dawson Cram #, No. 4 FIRMAN Power Equipment Chevrolet, 50.685, 177.567
36) Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
37) Frankie Muniz, No. 35 Ford Performance Ford, Owner Points, 
38) BJ McLeod, No. 78 Kales Truck Heavy Equipment Chevrolet, Owner Points,

Did Not Qualify: No. 53 Joey Gase,No. 45 Caesar Bacarella,No. 38 CJ McLaughlin,No. 28 Kyle Sieg,No. 74 Stanton Barrett,No. 66 David Starr

Track Qualifying Record: Tommy Houston  02/14/87 46.2989 194.389

Track Race Record: Geoff Bodine  02/16/85 1:54:33 157.137