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Rain Stops All-Star Qualifying

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Steady rain has postponed Friday’s NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

The session and the Pit Crew Challenge within the time-trial procedures will be held Saturday at 11:40 a.m. E.T.

Rain arrived late afternoon at the 0.625-mile track, abbreviating qualifying for the NASCAR All-Star Open qualifying race. Since that session was not run to completion, the starting lineup was set according to the NASCAR Rule Book, handing Ty Gibbs the pole position in Sunday’s 100-lap preliminary for drivers not already qualified for Sunday night’s main event.

The postponement adds another element to Saturday’s busy on-track schedule. All-Star Race qualifying now slots between Craftsman Truck Series qualifying and that series’ race, the Wright Brand 250.

All-Star qualifying procedures have been revised for this year’s edition, with drivers taking the green flag and making one lap at speed. Lap 2 will include a pit-road entry at the speed limit, and a pit stop for four tires and a mock-up of fueling. Drivers will then exit pit road, then race back to the checkered flag to complete their qualifying attempt.

That pit stop will be scored from a pair of timing lines – one pit stall on either end of the team’s box. The crew with the fastest clocking will claim the Pit Crew Challenge crown, and those results will set the order for pit-stall selection for Sunday’s 200-lap feature.