Myatt Snider claimed the pole for today’s Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on FS1).
The son of NBC Sports reporter Marty Snider, the 25-year-old Richard Childress Racing driver earned the pole in his first career Xfinity start. He posted a top speed of 188.430 mph.
Snider is the 12th driver to win the pole in their Xfinity debut.
It is the third consecutive pole for RCR in the season-opening race at Daytona, following Tyler Reddick in 2019 and Daniel Hemric in 20018. It is RCR’s 10th Xfinity pole at Daytona, which leads all teams.
Snider, the 2018 Truck Series rookie of the year, is driving RCR’s No. 21 car part-time this year.
“The last couple of days have been interesting,” Snider told FS1. “I’ve about gone to school basically. This is completely different from the truck series and how the truck series races. But I’m just blessed with the opportunity to race at Richard Childress Racing. ... But we’ve got an insanely fast race car, obviously. I’m so stoked to be with these guys. ... I can’t put it into words. First career start, first career pole.”
More: Myatt Snider’s European racing adventure
Snider will be joined on the front row by defending race winner Michael Annett.
The top five is completed by Justin Haley, Jeb Burton and SS Greenlight Racing’s Joe Graf Jr.
The Kaulig Racing cars driven by Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger each suffered similar mechanical issues in the left front during their qualifying runs, according to team general manager Chris Rice. It resulted in them posting the two of the slowest speeds in qualifying. With a lack of owner points, Allmendinger and Chastain failed to make the race.
Chastain will still get to race with Ryan Sieg’s team allowing him to drive Jeff Green’s 38 car.
The other DNQ drivers were Tommy Joe Martins, Chad Finchum and Colin Garrett.
Prior to qualifying NASCAR announced a L2 level penalty against MBM Motorsports and its No. 66 team for an improper body modification on the nose.
Crew chief Sebastian LaForge has been suspended for six Xfinity races effective immediately and fined $50,000.
The team has also been docked 75 owner points.
The No. 66 car, driven by Timmy Hill, qualified 26th for today’s race.
