Austin Cindric takes Pole in Xfinity Series Championship race

Austin Cindric has won the pole for tonight’s championship-deciding NASCAR Xfinity Series race from Phoenix Raceway. The reigning NXS Champion will lead the field of 36 to the green flag at the track he’s won the last two races at.

Cindric (No. 22 Mustang) is joined by Daniel Hemric (No. 18 Supra) in the top-five among the NXS Championship 4 drivers. Noah Gragson (No. 9 Camaro) starts seventh while A.J. Allmendinger (No. 16 Camaro) will start in 12th.

John Hunter Nemechek, who finished third in the 2021 NCWTS Championship battle from Avondale, AZ. last night, will drive Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 54 Toyota. The car, which has won 11 times this season between Kyle Busch, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell and once with Nemechek. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular will drive the Mobil 1 machine and attempt to take the NXS Owner’s Championship and will start on the front row.

Justin Allgaier is a former Phoenix winner and narrowly missed out on a championship bid this weekend. He starts third, while Riley Herbst qualified fifth.

2020 NCWTS Champion Sheldon Creed led over 100 laps last night in the season-ending Truck Series event before finishing fourth. He qualified a Richard Childress Racing-prepared B.J. McLeod Motorsports No. 78 to 10th-place during Saturday evening’s time trials.

41 cars enterted for tonight’s season-finale with just 36 allowed to compete. After qualifying, Landon Cassill (4), Stephen Leicht (13), Spencer Boyd (90), Ryan Ellis (74), Timmy Hill (61) and Joey Gase (52) were all bumped from the field.

Harrison Burton had a penalty from NASCAR after failing impound inspection and opted not to post a qualifying time at full speed. He’ll start last.

NXS Championship Race Qualifying Results

1: Austin Cindric (22) – Championship 4 Contender
2: John Hunter Nemechek (54)
3: Justin Allgaier (7)
4: Daniel Hemric (18) – Championship 4 Contender
5: Riley Herbst (98)
6: Brandon Jones (19)
7: Noah Gragson (9) – Championship 4 Contender
8: Justin Haley (11)
9: Jeb Burton (10)
10: Sheldon Creed (78)*
11: Sam Mayer (8) – R
12: A.J. Allmendinger (16) – Championship 4 Contender
13: Michael Annett (1)
14: Ryan Sieg (38)
15: Jade Buford (48) – R
16: Josh Williams (92)
17: Myatt Snider (2)
18: Kyle Sieg (38)
19: Brandon Brown (68)
20: Brett Moffitt (02)
21: Blaine Perkins (23)
22: Jeremy Clements (51)
23: Tommy Joe Martins (44)
24: Kyle Weatherman (47)
25: Bayley Currey (15)*
26: Alex Labbe (36)
27: David Starr (66)
28: Stefan Parsons (99)
29: J.J. Yeley (07)
30: Ryan Vargas (6) – R
31: Jeffrey Earnhardt (0)
32: Dylan Lupton (26)
33: Sage Karam (31) – R
34: Joe Graf Jr. (17)
35: Matt Mills (5)
36: Harrison Burton (20)
KEY: R – Rookie, * – Ineligible for points.