Chase Briscoe couldn't have picked a better start to try to defend his victory in the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Briscoe earned his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series pole Saturday, edging Tyler Reddick to start up front at America's Home For Racing. Briscoe was the first Xfinity Series winner at the ROVAL™ when he won this race last year.
"Certainly a good way to start," Briscoe said of going back-to-back. "The problem is now we can't go any more forward, so we've got to try to stay up there. Last year, our strategy with me not being in the playoffs was a little bit different. But we have the best track position now and try to hold it.
"I'm just really proud of all of our SHR with Fred Biagi guys. We brought a really good Ford Performance Mustang, obviously. We'll try to go back to back - it would be pretty special."
Briscoe was 10th in the first qualifying round - which was led by Cole Custer - but he and his No. 98 Ford was quickest when it counted. He made a lap of 100.346 mph around the 17-turn, 2.28-mile ROVAL™ to nip Reddick by .015 seconds.
Briscoe and Riddick will start from the front row, with Austin Cindric third, Custer fourth and A.J. Allmendinger fifth.
Briscoe's first pole in the series came in his 45th career race.
The Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is slated to take the green flag at 3:30 p.m.
