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Brad Keselowski Claims 2025 All-Star Pole; No. 71 Crew Dominates Pit Challenge

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Summary

  • Brad Keselowski earned pole for 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race.
  • No. 71 Spire Motorsports crew posted fastest 12.587-second pit stop.
  • Qualifying sets lineups for Saturdayโ€™s two 75-lap heat races.
  • Shane van Gisbergen led All-Star Open qualifying with 76.112 mph average.
  • Tyler Reddick posted top single-lap speed of 123.640 mph in practice.
  • Openโ€™s top two finishers and Fan Vote winner join All-Star Race.

Brad Keselowski captured the pole position for the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway with an average qualifying speed of 77.264 mph. As both driver and co-owner of the No. 6 RFK Racing car, Keselowski will start from the front in Sundayโ€™s 250-lap main event, set to begin at 8 p.m. ET.

His qualifying run outpaced Christopher Bell, who settled into second, with Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron closing out the top five drivers. Keselowskiโ€™s strong qualifying effort guarantees a front-row advantage for one of the yearโ€™s most anticipated races.

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Image credit: speedcafe.com

The Pit Crew Challenge also drew attention, with the No. 71 Spire Motorsports team working with Michael McDowell to post the best time of all crews on Friday. Their pit stop lasted only 12.587 seconds, earning them a $100,000 bonus for their quick work. For more on the science behind pit crew efficiency, the NASCAR Research & Development Center offers detailed insights.

The crew membersโ€”Brandon Chapman, Dax Hollifield III, Luke Bussel, Max Marsh, and Ty Boeckโ€”performed the fastest among both All-Star teams and those entered in the All-Star Open. Although Daniel Suรกrez finished last in qualifying, his No. 99 Trackhouse Racing pit crew recorded the best time among All-Star-qualified crews, clocking in at 12.6 seconds.

Fridayโ€™s qualifying also set the lineups for two 75-lap heat races happening Saturday. Odd-numbered qualifiers like Keselowski, Bowman, Byron, Austin Dillon, and Tyler Reddick are set for Heat 1, while even-numbered starters such as Bell, Briscoe, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott head to Heat 2.

The outcome of these heats will decide where the rest of the field lines up for Sundayโ€™s headline event, with Keselowski retaining the top starting position no matter the heat results.

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Image credit: cupscene.com

Shane van Gisbergen stood out in All-Star Open qualifying. The rookie led 18 drivers in this preliminary 100-lap race, putting his No. 88 Chevrolet at the front with a three-lap average of 76.112 mph, including a mandatory pit stop on Lap 2. For those interested in the technical aspects of NASCAR qualifying, the SAE International Motorsports Resources provides valuable engineering perspectives.

Carson Hocevar trailed closely with an average of 75.942 mph. The top five for the Open qualifying also included Noah Gragson, Michael McDowell, and Ryan Preece.

Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace, who both had strong practice sessions, were slotted further back in 12th and 14th spots respectively. The Openโ€™s top two finishers earn a place in the All-Star Race, with one more spot set aside for the Fan Vote winner.

In practice, Tyler Reddick led the field with a single-lap speed of 123.640 mph. Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, and Erik Jones rounded out the top five speeds in a packed session that combined All-Star racers with hopefuls from the Open.

Bubba Wallace and Erik Jones posted the quickest laps among drivers not already locked into the feature. Keselowski and Ross Chastain ranked just behind, each confirming strong pace ahead of the big night.

Chase Elliott scraped the wall in Turns 1 and 2 late during practice but avoided major damage to his Chevrolet. Defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano, who won last yearโ€™s All-Star Race, was 10th fastest in the practice session.

Ryan Blaney, the 2022 All-Star winner, finished 17th overall. On long runs, Reddick also topped the 10-lap average chart at 122.116 mph, just ahead of Bell, Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Josh Berry.

Bubba Wallace recorded the best 10-lap average among the Open field at 121.328 mph.

As race day approaches, anticipation is building. The starting grid is set, teams are ready, and the action will continue at North Wilkesboro Speedway as new All-Star legends are made. For historical context on the trackโ€™s significance, visit the North Wilkesboro Speedway Heritage Foundation.

The weekend brings fast laps, quick pit stops, and another chance for drivers and crews to shine under the lights. For fans looking to explore more about high-speed competition and recent developments, check out the latest on Brittany Forceโ€™s redemption Route66.

Additionally, insights from the Tricky Tipster at Route66 NHRA offer expert perspectives on racing strategies relevant to this weekendโ€™s high-stakes events.

Finally, the comeback of the Alexander Funny Car highlights the evolving competition in motorsports parallel to NASCARโ€™s own excitement.

* The featured image is not a real photograph โ€” it was created using AI.
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John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio's Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.

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