NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300: Qualifying, Jesse Love’s Pole Position, Lineup At Talladega Superspeedway

Jesse Love didn’t have Friday’s win taken away. 

OK, so it was a shortened qualifying session at Talladega Superspeedway and not a points race at Rockingham Speedway, but still, at least his hot lap of 182.946 mph stood up and Love earned the pole for Saturday’s Ag-Pro 300 and a chance to defend his title. 

The qualifying session was cut to just one round because of area lightning. 

Love won last Saturday but was disqualified during the post-race inspection for rear suspension issues. The sophomore Richard Childress Racing pilot continues to accumulate pole positions. In 43 career circuit events, Love will start his seventh from the inside of the front row. It’s also his fourth straight pole at a drafting track. 

“Love the race track,” Love told CW. 

Love earned his first career win last spring at the 2.66-mile track. Ranked fourth in the driver standings with one official win and six top-10 finishes in 10 outings 

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” Love said. “I think I have a good shot at it. 

“It’s going to be a hectic race.” 

Austin Hill (181.591 mph) will start second after securing his sixth straight front-row start at Talladega. 

Good call, @NASCAR. The 🌧️ is here. pic.twitter.com/axewTYWc4D

— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) April 25, 2025

Jesse Love’s DQ’d Rear Suspension On Display At Talladega 

Six days after Love’s No. 2 Chevrolet initially captured last Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Rockingham Speedway, but received a disqualification during post-race inspection. 

Friday at Talladega, the rear suspension was put on display by Eric Peterson, the circuit’s managing director. He unvieled the left-side truck arm, the rear-end housing, U-Bolt saddle and lowering block.  

Race officials flagged Love’s machine for not mating the U-Bolt saddle to the truck trailing arm, leaving a gap between surfaces. 

Peterson explained why the DQ was delivered. 

“What happens when you go into the corner and all this stuff is not tight is the load on the suspension moves left and the cornering load moves right with the body and will move the right rear of the body towards the wall and adds side force to the car which is where the performance advantage comes from,” Peterson said, as reported by NASCAR.com. “It skews it out.” 

Xfinity Series Director Eric Peterson explains the issue on the Jesse Love car from Rockingham that resulted in the disqualification. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/AQWS24WZ6o

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 25, 2025

Starting Lineup for NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Ag-Pro 300    

Here is a look at the lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway: 

Starting Position, Driver, Car No.

• 1, Jesse Love, No. 2 Chevrolet  
• 2, Austin Hill, No. 21 Chevrolet 
• 3, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 Chevrolet 
• 4, Joey Gase, No. 53 Chevrolet 
• 5, Jeb Burton, No. 27 Chevrolet 
• 6, Taylor Gray, No. 54 Toyota 
• 7, Josh Williams, No. 11 Chevrolet 
• 8, Daniel Dye, No. 10 Chevrolet 
• 9, Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Chevrolet 
• 10, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Chevrolet 
• 11, Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Ford 
• 12, Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Chevrolet 
• 13, Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet 
• 14, Sammy Smith, No. 8 Chevrolet 
• 15, Christian Eckes, No. 16 Chevrolet 
• 16, Brandon Jones, No. 20 Toyota 
• 17, Aric Almirola, No. 19 Toyota 
• 18, William Sawalich, No. 18 Toyota  
• 19, Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 Chevrolet 
• 20, Carson Kvapil, No. 1 Chevrolet 
• 21, Leland Honeyman, No. 70 Chevrolet 
• 22, Dean Thompson, No. 26 Toyota 
• 23, Nicholas Sanchez, No. 48 Chevrolet 
• 24, Kris Wright, No. 5 Chevrolet 
• 25, Greg Van Alst, No. 35 Chevrolet 
• 26, Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Ford 
• 27, Katherine Legge, No. 32 Chevrolet 
• 28, Patrick Emerling, No. 07 Chevrolet 
• 29, Harrison Burton, No. 25 Ford 
• 30, Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 24 Toyota 
• 31, Blaine Perkins, No. 31 Chevrolet 
• 32, Mason Maggio, No. 66 Chevrolet 
• 33, Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Chevrolet 
• 34, Sam Mayer, No. 41 Ford 
• 35, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Ford 
• 36, Jesse Iwuji, No. 91 Chevrolet 
• 37, Brennan Poole, No. 44 Chevrolet 
• 38, Caesar Bacarella, No. 45 Chevrolet 
• 39, Garrett Smithley, No. 14 Chevrolet 
• 40, Austin Green, No. 87 Chevrolet 
• 41, Jack Garcia, No. 29 Ford 

Big time lap for @JoeyGaseRacing.

He’ll start a career-best 4th tomorrow at the site of his best career finish. pic.twitter.com/oaZx1IbmWX

— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) April 25, 2025