No. 71 Team Reveals Lightning-Fast All-Star Pit Stop

Brad Keselowski took the spotlight during Friday’s qualifying at North Wilkesboro Speedway by posting an average speed of 77.264 mph. That time put the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford at the front for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star main event, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

He’ll start with Christopher Bell on the outside of Row 1, followed by Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron rounding out the top five. FS1, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will all carry live coverage of this much-anticipated 250-lap feature.

Friday’s session was not just about fastest laps. A big moment came for the No. 71 Spire Motorsports crew, who delivered the quickest pit stop of the day.

Michael McDowell’s team stopped the clock at 12.587 seconds, earning them a $100,000 bonus in the All-Star Pit Crew Challenge. That group included Brandon Chapman, Dax Hollifield III, Luke Bussel, Max Marsh, and Ty Boeck.

Close behind, Daniel Suárez’s No. 99 crew set a 12.6-second stop, but Suárez ended up 20th in overall qualifying.

Saturday’s heat races were set by the qualifying order. Drivers starting in odd-numbered spots joined Heat 1, while even-numbered qualifiers competed in Heat 2.

The results from those 75-lap heats defined the inside and outside rows for Sunday’s grid. The first heat included Keselowski, Bowman, Byron, Austin Dillon, and Tyler Reddick.

Bell, Briscoe, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott led the way in Heat 2.

Rookie Shane van Gisbergen topped qualifying for the All-Star Open, running a three-lap average of 76.112 mph in his No. 88 Chevrolet. Carson Hocevar placed second in the Open field.

Other notable qualifiers were Noah Gragson, McDowell, and Ryan Preece, with Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace starting in 12th and 14th despite being practice standouts. The Open offers two transfer spots to the All-Star Race.

The 23rd and final position in Sunday’s field goes to the driver who captures the Fan Vote.

The combined practice session on Friday saw 38 cars take the track. Tyler Reddick was fastest, topping the charts at 123.640 mph.

He was trailed by Chase Elliott, Wallace, Bell, and Jones. Among the locked-in All-Star drivers, Ross Chastain and Keselowski were next in line, while Elliott had a brush with the wall that did not cause serious damage.

Joey Logano, who won last year’s All-Star Race, registered the tenth-best lap. Ten-lap average speeds also favored Reddick, followed by Bell, Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Berry, and Wallace as the top Open competitor on longer runs.

As the stage is set for a high-stakes weekend, the No. 71 Spire crew stands out for their teamwork and execution under pressure. With a top qualifying performance from Keselowski and impressive pit stop times from crews up and down pit road, Sunday’s All-Star Race promises tight competition and plenty of action.

The finishing order of both the All-Star Open and the heats will lock in the starting grid, while all eyes will be on rookies, pit crews, and the fan favorite as surprises are sure to unfold.

For more insights on competitive racing performances, see the recent Brittany Force redemption at Route 66 or explore the history of NASCAR at the National Motorsports Press Association.

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.