Brennan Poole Handles Talladega Defeat with Pure Class

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Brennan Poole, driver of the #48 DC Solar Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 30, 2016 Photo - Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Brennan Poole, driver of the #48 DC Solar Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 30, 2016
Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Brennan Poole was the first car to the start / finish line at the conclusion of Saturday’s Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, but he didn’t win.

Contact between first and second place Joey Logano and Elliott Sadler coming to the checkered flag sent the No. 22 sliding sideways across the track triggering the caution and ending the race.

While it appeared that Poole won the race, NASCAR official deemed the finish under review. Both the No. 48 and No. 1 Chevrolets sat at the start / finish line waiting for official word, it seemed like eternity before the official came declaring Sadler the victor on his Birthday.

For Poole, the former ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards racer, it would have been understandable if the driver of the No. 48 DC Solar Chevrolet would have been upset or even angry, but much to his credit, the Woodland Hills, Texas native climbed from his car upbeat and appreciative to NASCAR for getting the call right.

“Just glad that they (NASCAR) were able to take the time to get it right,” said Poole. “Happy that the rightful winner is taking the trophy home tonight, wish it was, but we were close.

“Our car was really good. All day. It was just fun racing up there with everybody. Had a lot of fun pushing Joey (Logano). It got sketchy at times, which is typical Talladega.”

Handling the defeat with class is much easier for a driver who’s been assembled with a strong team like Poole has been this season.

“Anytime you come up a little bit short, it kinda sucks,” he said. “It is what it is. It’s racing.”

 

Brennan Poole, driver of the #48 DC Solar Chevrolet crosses the finish line under caution after the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 30, 2016 Photo - Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Brennan Poole, driver of the #48 DC Solar Chevrolet crosses the finish line under caution after the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 30, 2016
Photo – Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

“We’ve been fast several weeks this year, we just haven’t been able to close a whole race out. That’s been tough. We’ve been able to run in the top-ten pretty much every race this year, other than Bristol where I felt like we missed it a little bit. I feel like I’ve got better as a driver.”

Setting sail from Talladega, Poole says he won’t look think much of what could have been.

“I don’t know if I quite had it,” Poole added. “It’s like I was close all day, but I never really in the lead but for a brief moment. I don’t know if I’ll really think it got away – I’ll just be excited for the next time I get to come back to Talladega and race again.”

At the end of the day and what could have been, Poole summed up his day best, even with the end result:

“I’m thankful, grateful and happy to come home third.”

Despite his career-best finish in 26 races, Poole maintains eighth in the championship standings heading into the series’ next race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway on May 14. The 25-year-old has one start at the “Monster Mile” last May with a 12th place finish after starting 18th.