GREENVILLE, S.C. – Making his first Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour start since June, Josh Berry raced to the pole for the $30,000-to-win Old North State Nationals on Saturday at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
Berry, who recently clinched the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National championship, topped the 32-car field with a blistering 19.681-second lap around the half-mile paved oval.
Berry was originally scheduled contest the entire CARS Tour schedule, but was suspended following the Race at Ace 125 at Ace Speedway on June 6 for intentionally wrecking race leader Bobby McCarty.
Following his suspension, Berry shifted gears and began pursuit of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National title. The JR Motorsports driver easily won that title thanks to more than 20 victories on Southeastern short tracks this year.
The top-five drivers in qualifying also earned guaranteed starting positions in Sunday’s 200-lap finale and avoided a trio of qualifying races held Saturday night. Mike Looney will start second, followed by Layne Riggs, Deac McCaskill and Corey Heim.
The aforementioned 25-lap qualifying races were won by Mini Tyrrell, Timothy Peters and Riley Gentry. Each qualifying race sent five drivers to the feature. Boo Boo Dalton won the last chance race, which sent six cars to the main event.
Sunday’s Old North State Nationals 200-lap finale will begin at approximately 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live by SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Pit Row TV.