(CONCORD, NC) Forty-five drivers arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the fifth round of the 2017 ASRS Xfinity Series. Only 32 starting positions were available, which led to one of the closest fields in ASRS history. The difference between making the race and missing the race was .001 seconds and the pole was only .154 seconds faster than the slowest car to qualify on time.
Thirteen drivers failed to qualify: Michael Atkins, Jr., Edward Bray, Zack Calloway, Michael Cunic, Jesse Curry, Kelvin Harper, Tim Knott, Beau McGuire, Gary Nichols, Ron Palmer, Lee Staples, Kris Titus and Steven Trombly.
Danny Rodgers started his visit to Charlotte the right way, winning the pole for the 150 mile race. The first caution flew quickly as a pileup on the backstretch wrecked no less than 10 cars. Rodgers would see his luck run out after contact with Zac Bozanich, who was leading at the time sent Rodgers sliding down the backstretch in the #22 Pilot/Flying J Chevy. Rodgers let the incident boil over and returned to the track before sending Bozanich crashing. Rodgers was sent to the garage for the remainder of the race.
Robert Padavich established himself as a front runner early and led the most laps, 21, but was caught up in a crash with less than 30 laps to go after the field had made green flag pit stops. The end of the race saw a very close battle between Robby Baskins, Ty Hester, Tom Giannini, Justin Brown and Jason Stewart.
Stewart emerged the leader in the end after passing Baskins for the lead with seven laps to go. Stewart cruised to his first ASRS victory. Robby Baskins was second, Jonathan Holstein third, Ty Hester and Tom Giannini rounded out the top five.
Ty Hester leads the championship standings by 17 points over Tom Giannini as the Xfinity Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.