Erik Jones Earns Fourth Pole of 2016

Like they have done numerous times in 2016, Joe Gibbs Racing swept the front three positions in qualifying at Charlotte led by Erik Jones.

In the third round of qualifying, Jones posted a lap of 184.546 mph, just edging out his teammate Daniel Suarez. The No. 20 team is coming off a victory in the XFINITY Series last event in Dover two weeks ago.

With a speed of 184.470 mph, Suarez was runner-up in qualifying for the fourth time this year. This time it was just .012 seconds behind his JGR teammate.

Out of the 11 races, the No. 19 car has begun the race in the top three positions 11 times.

In his first XFINITY Series race of 2016, Denny Hamlin was over two-tenths of a second off the top time in the final round of qualifying. He recorded a lap at 183.219 mph, which improved from practice on Thursday.

Austin Dillon sat on the pole and swept both races at Charlotte last year will start from fourth on Saturday afternoon. His hot lap was over three-tenths of a second off the pole winning time at 182.636 mph.

2014 winner of this race Kyle Larson rounded out the top five at 182.451 mph.

XFINITY Series points leader, Elliott Sadler will start just outside the top five in sixth. This marks the No. 1 team second best qualifying effort of the year, just behind a fifth in California.

The highest starting rookie is Cole Custer in 11th with Brandon Jones alongside in 12th.

Jeb Burton will have to start from the rear after getting into the wall in Round 1. He had the 27th quickest lap.

TJ Bell and Morgan Shepherd are the two drivers who failed to qualify for the 40-car field.

Dustin Albino