As NASCAR rolls into the heart of Georgia for Race 17 of the Xfinity Series season, the weather—and the championship hunt—are heating up. What was expected to be a routine two-round qualifying session at the newly reconfigured EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta turned into a dramatic twist when lightning in the area forced an abrupt end to the proceedings.
Sheldon Creed, still searching for his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, will start Friday night’s Focused Health 250 from the pole after posting the fastest lap in Round 1 of qualifying: 32.107 seconds at 172.673 mph.
Creed Benefits as Weather Halts Round 2
Qualifying was scheduled to feature two rounds, with the top 10 from Round 1 advancing to battle it out for the pole. But Mother Nature had other plans. Just as Aric Almirola completed his lap and drivers were preparing to head back out for the final shootout, lightning struck within range of the speedway, bringing the session to a halt.
With safety protocols in place, NASCAR made the call to lock in the lineup based on the first-round speeds, handing Creed his fourth career Xfinity Series pole award. And while that achievement is notable, what Creed truly wants is something that has eluded him: a trip to Victory Lane.
“It’s nice to be up front, but I’ve been here before. I want to finish one off. This place races like a superspeedway—anything can happen. We just have to survive and be there at the end.” – Sheldon Creed
Top 10 Set as Hill, Mayer Lurk Behind
Creed will have no shortage of company up front. Lining up beside him in second is Austin Hill, his former Richard Childress Racing teammate and well-known rival. Hill’s 32.178-second lap came up just 0.071 seconds shy of Creed’s pole-winning mark. While the two haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, their on-track chemistry (and occasional fireworks) make for an intriguing front-row pairing.
Sam Mayer, coming off a recent strong run, will roll off third, followed by Brandon Jones, Jesse Love, and a trio of impressive young drivers: Connor Zilisch, Taylor Gray, and CJ McLaughlin, who surprised many with a career-best qualifying effort.
Harrison Burton and Aric Almirola rounded out the top 10, both showing signs of resurgence as they look to turn around middling seasons.
Full Starting Lineup – Focused Health 250 at EchoPark Speedway
| Pos | Car | Driver |
| 1 | 0 | Sheldon Creed |
| 2 | 21 | Austin Hill |
| 3 | 41 | Sam Mayer |
| 4 | 20 | Brandon Jones |
| 5 | 2 | Jesse Love |
| 6 | 88 | Connor Zilisch |
| 7 | 54 | Taylor Gray |
| 8 | 91 | CJ McLaughlin |
| 9 | 25 | Harrison Burton |
| 10 | 19 | Aric Almirola |
| 11 | 48 | Nick Sanchez |
| 12 | 18 | William Sawalich |
| 13 | 39 | Ryan Sieg |
| 14 | 8 | Sammy Smith |
| 15 | 31 | Blaine Perkins |
| 16 | 7 | Justin Allgaier |
| 17 | 16 | Christian Eckes |
| 18 | 4 | Parker Retzlaff |
| 19 | 70 | Leland Honeyman |
| 20 | 24 | Patrick Staropoli |
| 21 | 28 | Kyle Sieg |
| 22 | 10 | Daniel Dye |
| 23 | 32 | Katherine Legge |
| 24 | 1 | Carson Kvapil |
| 25 | 42 | Anthony Alfredo |
| 26 | 51 | Jeremy Clements |
| 27 | 27 | Jeb Burton |
| 28 | 71 | Ryan Ellis |
| 29 | 26 | Dean Thompson |
| 30 | 11 | Josh Williams |
| 31 | 5 | Kris Wright |
| 32 | 44 | Brennan Poole |
| 33 | 99 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 34 | 35 | Joey Gase |
| 35 | 7 | Nick Leitz |
| 36 | 14 | Garrett Smithley |
| 37 | 45 | Mason Massey |
| 38 | 53 | Mason Maggio |
Standout Starters and Notable Names
CJ McLaughlin, who typically qualifies near the rear of the field, was arguably the biggest surprise of the session. His P8 effort is his best career start in any national series.
Katherine Legge, one of the few road course specialists in the field, will start 23rd—her best qualifying performance of the year.
Nick Sanchez, William Sawalich, and Carson Kvapil—all part of the deep rookie class—each qualified inside the top 25, further proof that the youth movement in Xfinity is alive and well.
Veterans like Justin Allgaier (16th), Jeremy Clements (26th), and Matt DiBenedetto (33rd) will have some work to do when the green flag drops.
Creed’s Big Opportunity—Or More Superspeedway Heartbreak?
While EchoPark Speedway is a new name, its style is familiar. The track races like a superspeedway, making drafting and pack racing critical factors—along with a fair bit of luck. That dynamic has created unpredictability in past Atlanta races, with first-time winners and dramatic late-race moves becoming the norm.
For Creed, who has seen several potential wins slip through his fingers—often in wild fashion—this race presents another high-stakes shot at redemption.
“It’s a weird feeling. You’re on pole but you know the race is going to get crazy. Still, I’ll take track position any day.” – Sheldon Creed
News in Brief: Full Grid Set After Lightning Strikes Atlanta
As the NASCAR Xfinity Series rolls into EchoPark Speedway for its first-ever race at the venue, all eyes are on Sheldon Creed to see if this night will finally be the one he breaks through. But with a loaded field, unpredictable weather, and drafting dynamics in play, nothing is guaranteed.
Friday night’s Focused Health 250 promises speed, chaos, and maybe—just maybe—a career-defining moment for the No. 00.
ALSO READ: NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying Order Set for EchoPark Speedway Return with TNT
