By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor
FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s been a frustrating season for Team Penske in the Xfinity Series. After an eight-win explosion a year ago, the team has only recorded two victories with just three races remaining in 2016. However, Texas will start with their car on the pole after Brad Keselowski grabbed his first pole of the year in the Xfinity Series in the closest possible margin.
In the third and final round of qualifying, Keselowski actually tied Erik Jones for the top spot in the qualifying session. However, because the No. 22 team is higher in the owner point standings, Keselowski got the nod for the pole.
This marks Keselowski’s 20th pole position in 239 Xfinity Series starts.
Jones will roll off the grid in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge highest of the Chase competitors in second. Rookie Matt Tifft wil start third, while Daniel Suarez and Kyle Larson will round out the top-five starters in Saturday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Here are how the Chase competitors will start Saturday:
2. Erik Jones
4. Daniel Suarez
6. Justin Allgaier
8. Elliott Sadler
12. Blake Koch
13. Ryan Reed
16. Brendan Gaughan
18. Darrell Wallace Jr.
