NASCAR

NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire: Qualifying, Pole Position, Lineup At Rockingham Speedway

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published19 Apr 2025

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xfi9nity return to rockingham (1)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch earned the pole position for Saturday’s North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire on a flat tire. 

Overcoming the tire pressure issues, Zilisch clocked a hot lap of 22.630 seconds at Rockingham Speedway. Parker Retzlaff finished one-thousandths of a second behind the leader. 

Despite registering the fastest qualifying lap, Zilisch was forced to start the first circuit race at the 0.94-mile track since Feb. 21, 2004, from the rear. NASCAR officials cited unapproved adjustments for the tire change. 

Zilisch was credited with his fourth career pole position.

Kasey Kahne Makes NASCAR Xfinity Series Return 

Former Cup Series regular Kasey Kahne on Saturday remained poised to make his first NASCAR start since 2018. 

Coming out of retirement to compete in the series return to “The Rock,” Kahne’s inspiration developed last January when he learned of Saturday’s event. He sent a late-night text to a former associate and deal with Richard Childress Racing developed quickly. 

Kahne piloted the No. 33 Chevrolet to a fourth-place qualifying run Saturday. 

“It doesn’t feel like I’ve been out of NASCAR as long as I have,” Kahne told NASCAR.com. “Time flies and I’m glad to be back doing this race.” 

Now 45 years old, Kahne, who collected eight Xfinity wins, made his series debut at Rockingham in 2002.

NASCAR Xfinity Series’ N.C. Education Lottery 250 Lineup 

Here is a look at the lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire at Rockingham Speedway:  

Starting Position, Driver, Car No.  

  • 1, Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet   
  • 2, Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Chevrolet 
  • 3, Nick Sanchez, No. 48 Chevrolet 
  • 4, Kasey Kahne, No. 33 Chevrolet 
  • 5, William Sawalich, No. 18 Toyota 
  • 6, Brandon Jones, No. 20 Toyota  
  • 7, Jesse Love, No. 2 Chevrolet 
  • 8, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 Chevrolet 
  • 9, Christian Eckes, No. 16 Chevrolet 
  • 10, Austin Hill, No. 21 Chevrolet 
  • 11, Sam Mayer, No. 41 Ford 
  • 12, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Ford  
  • 13, Sammy Smith, No. 8 Chevrolet  
  • 14, Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Chevrolet 
  • 15, Taylor Gray, No. 54 Toyota  
  • 16, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Chevrolet 
  • 17, Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Ford  
  • 18, Dean Thompson, No. 26 Toyota 
  • 19, Justin Bonsignore, No. 19 Toyota 
  • 20, Thomas Annunziata, No. 70 Chevrolet  
  • 21, Josh Williams, No. 11 Chevrolet 
  • 22, Jeb Burton, No. 27 Chevrolet 
  • 23, Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Chevrolet  
  • 24, Blaine Perkins, No. 31 Chevrolet  
  • 25, Carson Kvapil, No. 1 Chevrolet 
  • 26, Josh Bilicki, No. 91 Chevrolet  
  • 27, Daniel Dye, No. 10 Chevrolet  
  • 28, Brennan Poole, No. 44 Chevrolet  
  • 29, Harrison Burton, No. 25 Ford  
  • 30, Kris Wright, No. 5 Chevrolet  
  • 31, JJ Yeley, No. 53 Chevrolet  
  • 32, Austin Green, No. 87 Chevrolet  
  • 33, Garrett Smithley, No. 14 Chevrolet  
  • 34, Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 Chevrolet 
  • 35, Katherine Legge, No. 32 Chevrolet  
  • 36, Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Ford 
  • 37, Vicente Salas, No. 45 Chevrolet 
  • 38, Dawson Cram, No. 74 Chevrolet 
  • 39, Patrick Emerling, No. 07 Chevrolet 
  • 40, Greg Van Alst, No. 35 Chevrolet