NASCAR driver Brennan Poole to compete for Mike Harmon Racing amid personal tragedy

This weekend, the NASCAR paddock visits the Auto Club Speedway in California. On the Xfinity side, the Mike Harmon Racing team recruited Brennan Poole. As it happens, Poole hasn’t stepped into an Xfinity machine since 2017 with former Chip Ganassi Racing. Of course, his participation is not guaranteed as he must qualify for the Production Alliance Group 300 in car #47.

The outfit started the 2022 Xfinity season at Daytona International Speedway with then-driver Gray Gaulding failing to qualify for the race. Naturally, that puts some pressure on Poole, 30, at Auto Club Speedway. According to some reports, the California native is set to compete again in Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Brennan Poole has a lot on her mind heading into the race weekend

The last few months have been a very difficult time for the pilot, on a personal level. Earlier this month, his mother, Erin, passed away, and this is the first event he has attended since her passing. Now the driver hopes to qualify and compete in the race to honor his mother’s memory.

If successful, it will be his 84th start in the Xfinity Arena. He had planned to pay tribute to him, with a sticker on the nameplate of his #47 Chevrolet Camaro.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity [Mike Harmon Racing] got me back on the track this weekend at Auto Club Speedway“Pool noted. “I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel and have my family on the track with me, after the unexpected death of my mother.”

On a different note, while it’s been nearly five years since he raced in an Xfinity car, Poole wasn’t exactly idle. In fact, he had a full-time season in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series with Premium Motorsports. Unfortunately, he got injured in the offseason and underwent surgery. Fortunately, he has since recovered and competed in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event for On Point Motorsports.

DIVE DEEPER