Overview

• Heim posted a 28.946-second, 131.583 mph lap, the only time under 29 seconds in qualifying.
• The pole is his sixth this season as he continues a campaign chasing Greg Biffle’s single-season win mark of nine.
• He cautioned that his truck excelled on fire-off yet lacked long-run consistency and he has limited experience at the track.
• Saturday’s Team EJP 175 doubles as the Round 1 elimination race, with playoff starter Chandler Smith lining up second and sitting 24 points below the cutline.
• Playoff contenders filled the first two rows — Ty Majeski third and Layne Riggs fourth — with Tanner Gray leading non-playoff drivers in fifth and Matt Crafton, Brent Crews, Corey LaJoie, Jake Garcia and Tyler Ankrum completing the top 10.