Blake Koch, Kaulig Racing Score First Career Pole at Talladega

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor

After setting down the fastest time in NASCAR Xfinity Series practice on Friday, Blake Koch and Kaulig Racing were fast again in Saturday’s qualifying session for the Sparks Energy 300 as Koch scored his first career pole with a lap of 52.188 seconds, 183.490 mph.

Joining Koch on the front row will be Kasey Kahne, who is driving the No. 88 Chevrolet this weekend for JR Motorsports.

Rounding out the top-five starters for Saturday’s race are three of the four Richard Childress Racing entries, with Daniel Hemric starting third, Ben Kennedy in fourth, and Brandon Jones in fifth. The remainder of the top-12 fastest qualifiers included Justin Allgaier, Ty Dillon, Joey Logano, William Byron, Erik Jones, Ryan Reed, and Brennan Poole.

Other notables starting deeper in the field include: Cole Custer in 13^th, defending winner Elliott Sadler in 14^th, Daniel Suarez in 18^th, Spencer Gallagher in 19^th, and Darrell Wallace, Jr. in 22^nd.

With qualifying complete, the 113 lap Sparks Energy 300 is next up on the docket at Talladega and is scheduled for 1:00 pm ET on FOX.