Two non-playoff pilots, Parker Retzlaff and Anthony Alfredo, claimed the top NASCAR Xfinity Series’ starting spots for Saturday’s National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway.
Retzlaff on Friday turned in a hot qualifying lap of 95.151 mph, securing his second career pole. The third-year competitor edged Alfredo by 0.012 seconds.
The next six drivers, Chandler Smith (95.075 mph), Jesse Love (95.051), Justin Allgaier (94.993), Austin Hill (94.965), Sammy Smith (94.855) and Sheldon Creed (94.851), qualified to fill out the next three rows.
Hill and AJ Allmendinger have qualified for next weekend’s Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. With two spots open, Allgaier ranks third among playoff drivers, 35 points above the elimination line. Fourth-ranked Cole Custer, the defending circuit champion, paces fifth-ranked Chandler Smith by 28 points.
Love, who enters Saturday’s Round of 8 finale 35 points below the cutoff line, earned the top practice lap time, clocking in at 20.454 seconds. Matt DiBenedetto (20.465 seconds) placed second.
Only 2 spots remain in the Championship 4 🏁
The @NASCAR_Xfinity Series Playoffs move to Martinsville SATURDAY at 3:30 pm ET on @TheCW! pic.twitter.com/Sih9gHjdB8
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) October 30, 2024
Alpha Prime Racing Retains Brennan Poole
With one 2025 seat open, Alpha Prime Racing secured the full-time services of Brennan Poole’s services for a second consecutive season, the team announced Thursday.
“He’s not going anywhere,” the organization posted on X (Twitter).
In 31 starts piloting the No. 44 Chevrolet, Poole recorded one top-five finish and two top-10s at Talladega Superspeedway. He ranks 16th in the driver standings, entering Martinsville with 534 points. With two events left, Poole is trending to give the team its best finish.
The Mooresville, N.C.-based organization reportedly did not invite driver Ryan Ellis back to drive the No. 43 Chevrolet next season.
“Being part of Alpha Prime has meant so much to me,” he said, as reported by Newsweek Sports. “They helped me achieve a lifelong dream of racing full-time in NASCAR.”
He’s not going anywhere. 😤@brennanpoole returns to Alpha Prime Racing full-time in the No. 44 for 2025! pic.twitter.com/mDwsGi3Dfm
— Alpha Prime Racing (@TeamAlphaPrime) October 31, 2024
Starting Lineup for NASCAR Xfinity Series’ National Debt Relief 250
Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway:
Starting Position, Driver, Car No., Team
- 1, Parker Retzlaff, 31, Jordan Anderson Racing
- 2, Anthony Alfredo, 5, Our Motorsports
- 3, Chandler Smith, 81, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 4, Jesse Love, 2, Richard Childress Racing
- 5, Justin Allgaier, 7, JR Motorsports
- 6, Austin Hill, 21, Richard Childress Racing
- 7, Sammy Smith, 8, Jr Motorsports
- 8, Sheldon Creed, 18, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 9, Aric Almirola, 20, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 10, Cole Custer, 00, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 11, AJ Allmendinger, 16, Kaulig Racing
- 12, Sam Mayer, 1, JR Motorsports
- 13, Riley Herbst, 98, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 14, Brandon Jones, 9, JR Motorsports
- 15, William Sawalich, 19, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 16, Matt DiBenedetto, 38, RSS Racing
- 17, Bubba Pollard, 26, Sam Hunt Racing
- 18, Parker Kligerman, 48, Big Machine Racing
- 19, Brennan Poole, 44, Alpha Prime Racing
- 20, Shane van Gisbergen, 97, Kaulig Racing
- 21, Jeb Burton, 27, Jordan Anderson Racing
- 22, Myatt Snider, 91, DGM Racing
- 23, Josh Williams, 11, Kaulig Racing
- 24, Blaine Perkins, 29, RSS Racing
- 25, Leland Honeyman, 42, Young’s Motorsports
- 26, Ryan Ellis, 43, Alpha Prime Racing
- 27, Kyle Sieg, 39, RSS Racing
- 28, Dawson Cram, 92, DGM Racing
- 29, Jeremy Clements, 51, Jeremy Clements Racing
- 30, Garrett Smithley, 45, Alpha Prime Racing
- 31, Dylan Lupton, 15, AM Racing
- 32, Preston Pardus, 50, Pardus Racing Inc.
- 33, Carson Ware, 35, Joey Gase Motorsports
- 34, Logan Bearden, 74, Mike Harmon Racing
- 35, Patrick Emerling, 07, SS GreenLight Racing
- 36, Mason Maggio, 53, Joey Gase Motorsports
- 37, Greg van Alst, 14, SS GreenLight Racing
- 38, Ryan Sieg, 28, RSS Racing
One race. Two spots. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/eUkcK2KQco
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 27, 2024
