AUSTIN, TX -- The Xfinity Series completed qualifying at Circuit of the Americas on Friday evening while setting the starting lineup for Saturday's race. JR Motorsports drivers locked up four of the top five spots.
Rookie Connor Zilisch won the pole with a lap of 88.832 mph. This is his second career Xfinity Series pole in his seventh start, and it is the second time he has won the pole at Circuit of the Americas. He did so last season while making his Truck Series debut.
COTA Xfinity Series starting lineup
Zilisch will pull double duty this weekend. He will make his Cup Series debut Sunday afternoon at the Texas road course while driving the No. 87 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing.
Ross Chastain qualified second in the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet with a lap of 88.664 mph. He was followed by Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron (87.951 mph), JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier (87.814 mph), and JR Motorsports driver Carson Kvapil (87.729 mph).
The rest of the top 10 featured Corey Heim in a Sam Hunt Racing entry, Joe Gibbs Racing's Tayor Gray, Haas Factory Team's Sam Mayer, Riley Herbst in a Joe Gibbs Racing entry, and Kaulig Racing's Christian Eckes.
The entry list featured 41 cars. Three did not make the race. Alpha Prime Racing's Brad Perez, Alpha Prime Racing's Parker Retzlaff, and Cope Family Racing's Thomas Annunziata failed to secure spots in the 38-car lineup.
Kris Wright in 33rd, Ryan Ellis in 34th, Jeremy Clements in 35th, Kyle Sieg in 36th, Baltazar Leguizamon in 37th, and Ryan Sieg in 38th all locked into the race on owner points.
With the starting lineup set, the Xfinity Series drivers will prepare to take on the Texas road course for the fifth time. The race will take place at 2:30 p.m. ET. CW will continue to provide coverage with Adam Alexander, Jamie McMurray, and Parker Kligerman in the booth.