Weather complications struck Daytona International Speedway on Saturday morning, forcing NASCAR to cancel qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series season-opening United Rentals 300 after only 12 cars had completed their qualifying attempts.

The session initially began under threatening skies, with Garrett Smithley showing early speed in his No. 14 Chevrolet to claim the provisional pole. Joey Gase and CJ McLaughlin had posted the second and third-fastest times respectively before precipitation returned to the 2.5-mile superspeedway, ultimately leading officials to cancel the remainder of qualifying.

With the session abandoned, NASCAR reverted to the rulebook to set the field, using 2024 owner points to determine the starting lineup. This decision places defending series champion Justin Allgaier on the pole position, marking a strong starting spot for his title defense.

A notable storyline emerges in the front row, as rookie Taylor Gray will start alongside Allgaier in second position. Fellow rookie Christian Eckes will roll off third, showcasing the strong presence of new talent in the series’ premier positions.

Austin Hill, who has dominated recent Daytona openers with three consecutive victories, will begin his quest for a fourth straight win from the fourth position. Rookie William Sawalich rounds out the top five, continuing the theme of young talent near the front of the field.

The qualifying cancellation had significant implications for three teams, as Carson Ware (No. 74 Mike Harmon Racing), CJ McLaughlin (No. 92 DGM Racing), and JJ Yeley (No. 29 RSS Racing) failed to make the 40-car field based on 2024 owner points.

Starting Top 10:

1. Justin Allgaier
2. Taylor Gray
3. Christian Eckes
4. Austin Hill
5. William Sawalich
6. Sheldon Creed
7. Brandon Jones
8. Sam Mayer
9. Jesse Love
10. Carson Kvapil

The United Rentals 300 marks the beginning of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, with Hill attempting to extend his remarkable streak of success in the season opener at the World Center of Racing.