HAMPTON, Ga. – A NASCAR Xfinity Series pole for Jesse Love at Atlanta Motor Speedway has been a sure thing since his track debut last February, and it was a sure thing again Friday evening.

Love rocketed to his third straight Atlanta pole during two-lap time trials at the 1.54-mile quad-oval, posting a time of 31.730 seconds (174.724 mph) in the second and final knockout round with his No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.

It marked the sixth Kennametal Pole Award of Love’s Xfinity Series career, his fifth on a drafting-style racetrack, and the seventh pole in the last eight qualifying sessions at drafting tracks for RCR as an organization.

With track position ahead of him, Love hopes to “finish the job” this time and leave AMS with the trophy after dominating last February’s race before running out of fuel on an overtime restart.

 

“I’d be lying if I said (that I wasn’t confident),” said Love after climbing from his pole-winning car. “Our Whelen Chevrolet was fast, and I feel like … when we come to places like this (drafting tracks) – I don’t want to say it’s a given, because when you start expecting things, then you start to get your feelings hurt – but all the RCR and ECR (Engines) guys do a phenomenal job.

“It’s my dad’s birthday too, and he’s been my hero ever since I can remember, so I’m looking forward to seeing him and glad I could get this (pole) for him,” Love added. “Looking forward to going tomorrow and hopefully staying up front and controlling the race.”

Love led an RCR front-row lockout, with teammate Austin Hill qualifying second after a time of 31.793 seconds (174.378 mph) in the No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet.

Kaulig Racing’s Josh Williams turned in a career-best qualifying effort and starts third (31.920/173.684) alongside defending series champion Justin Allgaier (31.926/173.652).

Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer timed in fifth fastest and was the best Ford driver in qualifying, just ahead of Joe Gibbs Racing rookie Taylor Gray, who led the Toyota contingent with the sixth-best lap.

Brandon Jones and the rookie trio of Carson Kvapil, Christian Eckes, and Connor Zilisch closed out the top 10 drivers who advanced through both rounds of qualifying.

JGR’s William Sawalich made it five rookies inside the top 11, but was the first driver that failed to make the cut out of the first round. He’ll start 11th (32.069/172.877) Saturday in the No. 18 Soundgear Toyota after falling .024 seconds short of the transfer.

Other notables starting deeper in the field include Sammy Smith (12th), Ryan Sieg (14th), Aric Almirola (16th), Sheldon Creed (17th), Harrison Burton (19th), Parker Retzlaff (23rd), and Matt DiBenedetto (30th).

With 38 entries on the property for 38 starting spots, no one failed to qualify for race two of the season.

Saturday’s Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 is slated for a 5 p.m. ET green flag, with live coverage on The CW, the Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.