Brad Keselowski shaking down his No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang Dark Horse in preparation for the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Photo Credit: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — It has been a forgettable season for Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion, whose luck may have turned around for the 41-year-old Rochester Mills, Michigan native, managing to secure the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Keselowski and his No. 6 RFK Ford Mustang Dark Horse topped the speed charts during Friday’s qualification session. He completed three laps, which included a four-tire pit stop, with a total time of 87.363 seconds. This performance allowed Keselowski to start on pole for his respective heat race, which will be run on Saturday.
“It’s pretty freaking cool to win the pole for the All-Star Race,” Keselowski said after his efforts on Friday. “It’s one of the things I’ve never done in my career, and to do it by so much. Whole team effort, the pit crew, Jeremy Bullins (crew chief), the team gave me a rock solid car and a rock solid pit stop. I nailed the lap and am just really proud of everybody and getting our first pole of the year”
“It doesn’t hurt being on the pole. It feels really good, especially to win the pole by that much. Just a total team effort. This event, this format, pushes you to your limits from a driver perspective, team perspective, and pit crew. And I stuck my part, I mean it felt really good. I knew I stuck the entry.”
Three-time winner in the 2025 Cup Series campaign, Christopher Bell secured the second position, giving the driver of the No. 20 car the pole position for the second heat race.
Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron bested the top 5 in qualifying.
The rest of the top 10 followed with Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Chase Elliott.
McDowell, Spire Motorsports Reel In $100,000 In Pit Crew Challenge
Michael McDowell and his Spire Motorsports pit crew celebrating winning the 2025 Pit Crew Challenge, along with a $100,000 bonus. (Photo Credit: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)
Michael McDowell and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports pit crew achieved the fastest four-tire pit stop during qualifying, clocking in at 12.587 seconds to secure the $100,000 bonus, the quickest among the 38 cars competing for it.
The pit stop was essential for both NASCAR All-Star Open qualifying and the 20-car NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying, enabling McDowell to start fourth in Sunday’s All-Star Open, which serves as the precursor to the All-Star Race.
McDowell and Spire Motorsports’ efforts were able to cut off a two-year winning streak for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Pit Crew Challenge, as Ty Gibbs won in 2023, followed by Christopher Bell in 2024.
The five-man crew that propelled both McDowell and the Spire Motorsports crew to the pole position was led by Brandon Chapman (Fueler), Max Marsh (Front Changer), Ty Boeck (Rear Changer), Luke Bussel (Tire Carrier), and Dax Hollifield (Jackman).
Daniel Suarez, Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, and Bell rounded out the top 5.
Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, Ryan Preece, and Shane van Gisbergen completed the top 10 in the challenge.
