Young rookie Erik Jones will start on pole for today's Drive4Clots.com 300 from AutoClub Speedway in Fontana California.

It will be the first time that the 18 year old has run a race on the 1.5 mile track, but you wouldn't have known that from his display in qualifying.

Jones driving the #20 swept all three of the rounds just like Joey Logano did last week at Phoenix International Raceway.

Starting from pole could be pivotal for Jones as nine of the last ten winners at AutoClub have come from the front row and the rookie will be alongside Brian Scott in the #2 who will start 2nd.

Denny Hamlin in the #54, subbing for the injured Kyle Busch this weekend, will start 3rd, Brad Keselowski in the #22 will start 4th, Regan Smith in the #7 will be 5th and completing the front three rows will be Kevin Harvick in the #88 for JR Motorsports.

The first round of qualifying was fifteen minutes long and started with a number of drivers going out onto the track lead by Harvick in the #88 who posted a 40.447 second lap.

After five minutes 24 of the drivers had posted a lap time with Harvick top of the board followed by rookie Wallace Jr #6, Smith #7, Gaughan #62 and reigning Series champion Elliott #9.

The red flag was displayed on track with just under ten minutes to go as the #70 of Cope  had a loose oil hose and put fluid down onto the 1.5 mile track.

Under the red flag driver of the #54 this weekend Hamlin was asked if he thought he would start at the front today: "Too early to tell, just trying to get used to it.

"I don't think we will be on the pole but we will see at the end of three rounds here."

After a ten minute clean up the green flag was once again displayed and Larson in the #42 lead a group of cars out on track.

Bliss #19 was on the bubble in 24th after posting a lap time of 41.864 seconds with only seven minutes to go in round 1.

Rookie Jones in the #20 smashed Harvicks time to go top of the board with six minutes to go with a lap time of 39.965 seconds, the fastest lap of the weekend.

With five minutes to go in round 1 Jones #20, Harvick #88, Wallace Jr #6, Smith #7 and Gaughan #62 were the top five as 39 drivers had posted a lap, only Cope #70 was yet to run after the problem with a loose oil hose.

Armstrong in the #43 put himself into round two with three minutes to go, posting a lap to go 20th on the chart to knock Starr #44 out of the top 24.

Starr #44 went back out onto the track with two minutes to go, to try and force his way back into round 2, but wasn't quick enough and stayed 25th after his laps.

Championship points leader Ty Dillon in the #3 just made his way into round 2 after finishing 23rd on the board in the first round.

Round 2, which was ten minutes in length, started with Harvick in the #88 once again posting a lap first which was a 40.321 second lap.

With seven minutes to go Gaughan #62 went to 4th to knock out Ty Dillon in the #3 to 13th.

Rookie Jones #20 once again shot to the top of the board with a 40.282 with six minutes to go to knock C.Buescher #60 out of the top 12.

At the half way point in round 2 Jones #20, Harvick #88, Keselowski #22, Smith #7 and Suarez #19 as 23 drivers had posted a lap.

The track went very quiet until one minute to go when Ty Dillon #3 went out again to try and get into the top 12, but he could only go to 16th.

As time expired Sadler in the #1 bumped out reigning champion Elliott #9 as he put himself 11th on the board and into round three.

Some big names will start outside the top 12 for today's race, Elliott #9 will be 13th, points leader T.Dillon #3 will be 15th and rookie Wallace Jr #6 will be 17th.

The third and final round, which was only five minutes long, started once again with Harvick #88 being the first driver to post a lap time which was a 40.743 second because of a bobble he had off turn two.

Hamlin in the #54 then went to the top with a 40.568 second lap just after Harvick, but then the fastest man of qualifying Jones in the #20 took top spot with a 40.384 second lap.

Sadler in the #1 was the last driver to try his luck in round three, but could only go into 10th starting spot for tonight's Drive4Clots.com 300.

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About the author
Mark Smith
Writer for VAVEL USA as a NASCAR writer in the Racing section. Contact me via Twitter @Marksmiggzy17 or email: [email protected]