After a weekend off the Xfinity Series returns to take on the half mile “paperclip” of Martinsville Speedway for the Call 811.com Before You Dig 250.
Forty teams brought cars to the track for 38 starting spots.
And the Dash-4-Cash returns for the second of four races – Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry, Chandler Smith, and John Hunter Nemechek. The driver who finishes in front of the other three will win the $100,000 prize. During the Dash-4-Cash races no Cup Series drivers are allowed to participate in the race.
The drivers have been divided into two groups for 15 minute practice sessions before qualifying for the race on Saturday night.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Kyle Weatherman who posted a time of 20.597 seconds around the half mile track.
Anthony Alfredo’s car had some issues during the inspection process and will not make a qualifying run; as a result, he will start the race from the back of the field.
With a time of 20,057 seconds, Cole Custer put his double zero car on the pole with John Hunter Nemechek alongside. This is Cussler’s 14th career pole.
Garrett Smithley and Chad Finchum failed to make the race.
The starting lineup for the Call 811.Com Before You Dig 250:
Cole Custer
John Hunter Nemechek
Sheldon Creed
Parker Retzlaff
Sam Mayer
Josh Berry
Sammy Smith
Justin Allgaier
Riley Herbst
Brandon Jones
Chandler Smith
Derek Kraus
Daniel Hemric
Ryan Truex
Austin Hill
Brett Moffitt
Ryan Sieg
Connor Mosack
Kaz Grala
Josh Williams
Parker Kligerman
Jeremy Clements
Blaine Perkins
Alex Labbe
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Matt Mills
Kyle Weatherman
Kyle Sieg
Dawson Cram
Leland Honeyman
Jeb Burton
Brennan Poole
Kaden Honeycutt
Jo Graf Jr
Ryan Ellis
Patrick Emerling
Gray Gaulding
Anthony Alfredo
Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano join Adam Alexander in the FOX broadcast booth for tonight’s race.
Sheldon Creed, Jeremy Clements, Kaden Honeycutt, Anthony Alfredo, and Alex Labbe will all start the race from the back of the field after the crews made numerous changes to the cars.
Stage one and two of the race are 60 laps each with stage three lasting 130 laps for a total of 250 laps around the half mile track. Drivers can run 125 to 130 laps on a single load of fuel.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the inside lane with John Hunter Nemechek on the outside. Custer edges out in front for the lead as drivers get three wide around the track.
Lap two, Cole Custer leads the race with John Hunter Nemechek on his bumper; Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Lap five, Cole Custer and John Hunter Nemechek battle for the lead.
Lap six, John Hunter Nemechek takes the lead; Cole Custer, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Lap eight, all four of the Dash-4-Cash drivers – John Hunter Nemechek, Josh Berry, Chandler Smith, and Justin Allgaier – are all in the top eight.
Lap eleven, John Hunter Nemechek has a lead of over half a second on Cole Custer.
Lap 13, John Hunter Nemechek holds a lead of over half a second on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Lap 17, Riley Herbst passes Sam Mayer for fourth.
Lap 27, John Hunter Nemechek holds on to his half second lead on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Riley Herbst, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Eighth place driver Justin Allgaier is under the weather with a stomach bug that kept him up all night.
Lap 33, Since passing Cole Custer for the lead, John Hunter Nemechek has dominated the race; Sammy Smith, Riley Herbst, and Josh Berry round out the top five.
There are 32 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 37, Cole Custer has erased a half second lead on John Hunter Nemechek and is challenging for the lead.
Lap 37, Brett Moffitt brings out the first caution flag of the race when he spins out after some on track contact”.
A few drivers came down pit road for service and adjustments including Josh Berry who was in fifth place.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane on lap 44 with Cole Custer on the outside. Nemechek jumps out for the lead with Sammy Smith in second; Cole Custer, Riley Herbst, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Lap 47, there are 30 cars on the lead lap with all 38 drivers still on the track.
Lap 50, John Hunter Nemechek has a half second lead on Sammy Smith; Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst round out the top five..
Even with all of the changes and adjustments to the number two car, Sheldon Creed is having some brake issues in his car.
With just five laps remaining in stage one, John Hunter Nemechek hods on to a half second lead on Sammy Smith; Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
John Hunter Nemechek wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
John Hunter Nemechek
Sammy Smith
Cole Custer
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst
Justin Allgaier
Daniel Hemric
Chandler Smith
Parker Retzlaff
Brandon Jones
Drivers come down pit road for service. Cole Custer reports a number of issues with his car and had a slow pit stop. John Hunter Nemechek wins the race off of pit road but not all of the drivers made a pit stop.
After staying out on the track, Austin Hill leads the race and will bring the field down for the green flag start of stage two.
John Hunter Nemechek will restart the race in fifth place.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 72 and jumps out in front for the lead with Josh Berry in second; Jeb Burton, John Hunter Nemechek, and Dawson Cram round out the top five.
Sam Mayer and Justin Allgaier also had slow pit stops and are now mired back in the pack.
Lap 74, Josh Berry passes Austin Hill for the lead.
Lap 77, Josh Berry has pulled out to a lead over half a second on Austin Hill; John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Hemric, and Jeb Burton round out the top five.
Lap 79, John Hunter Nemechek passes Austin Hill for second. Josh Berry leads the race by a second.
Lap 82, Josh Berry has a lead of over half a second on John Hunter Nemechek; Daniel Hemric, Cole Custer, and Austin Hill round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 86 when Kaden Honeycutt is stopped on the track with a smoking car.
Josh Berry brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane after an extended period for cleanup on lap 99 with John Hunter Nemechek on the outside. Josh Berry edges out in front for the lead but Sammy Smith comes up from the outside to battle with Josh Berry for the lead. Sammy Smith takes the lead after giving Berry a bump.
Lap 106, Sammy Smith leads the race with John Hunter Nemechek in second; Josh Berry, Cole Custer, and Daniel Hemric round out the top five.
Lap 107, John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith battle for the lead with Nemechek getting back out in front.
With eight laps remaining in stage two, John Hunter Nemechek leads the race with Sammy Smith and Josh Berry in a battle for second; Cole Custer and Daniel Hemric out out the top five.
Kaden Honeycutt is the only driver not on the track.
Five laps remain in stage two; Joh Hunter Nemechek has pulled out to a lead of over two seconds.
Sheldon Creed and Justin Allgaier made contact; causing some damage to Allgaier’s car.
John Hunter Nemechek wins stage two for the stage sweep to become the first driver to sweep the stages at Martinsville.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
John Hunter Nemechek
Josh Berry
Cole Custer
Sammy Smith
Daniel Hemric
Brandon Jones
Ryan Truex
Riley Herbst
Chandler Smith
Derek Kraus
Drivers come down pit road for service with John Hunter Nemechek winning the race off of pit road.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Sammy Smith on the inside on lap 132. Nemechek gets out in front for the lead.
Lap 133, the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones, and Daniel Hemric.
Sammy Smith and Cole Custer battle for second with Custer taking the spot.
The fifth caution of the night comes out after Ryan Ellis and Joe Graf Jr get into a wreck. Patrick Emerling was also involved.
Josh Berry reports a very tight condition; he was on the splitter.
A few drivers came down pit road for service. Josh Berry had a flat tire.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane on lap 143 with Sammy Smith on the outside. Nemechek jumps out in front for the lead. Sammy Smith and Cole Custer battle for second with Brandon Jones on their bumper.
Caution flag comes out on lap 144 when Dawson Cram gets into the wall. Alex Labbe and Leland Honeyman were also involved.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside land on lap 156 with Sammy Smith on the outside. Nemechek jumps out in front for the lead. Drivers are getting three wide back in the field.
Lap 157, Cole Custer and Sammy Smith are again battling for second.
Lap 158 John Hunter Nemechek has a lead of over half a second on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Daniel Hemric, and Ricley Herbst round out the top five.
Josh Williams brings out the seventh caution flag of the race after spinning out with a flat tire.
A few drivers come down pit road for fresh tires.
There are 31 cars on the lead lap but no driver is just one lap down.
John Hunter Nemechek has led 120 of the 168 laps run so far.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane on lap 169 with Cole Custer on the outside lane. Nemechek edges out for the lead.
Lap 172, John Hunter Nemechek has a half second lead on Cole Custer; Daniel Hemric, Sammy Smith, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Lap 176, John Hunter Nemechek holds a half second lead on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith is in third nearly two seconds back with Daniel Hemric and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Seventy laps remaining in the race, John Hunter Nemechek continues to lead the race with Cole Custer in second; Sammy Smith, Daniel Hemric, and Riley Herbst rounds out the top five.
All four of the Dash-4-Cash cars are in the top 10 with Justin Allgaier in 18th place with John Hunter Nemechek out front with the lead.
Lap 186, John Hunter Nemechek has pulled out to a one second lead on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Daniel Hemric, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Conor Mosack has returned to the track 46 laps down.
With 53 laps remaining in the race, John Hunter Nemechek continues to dominate the race with a one second lead on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Daniel Hemric, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Leaders are approaching slower traffic.
Fifty to go! John Hunter Nemechek has a half second lead on Cole Custer amidst slower traffic.
Lap 207, John Hunter Nemechek holds his half second lead on Cole Custer amidst traffic.
The eighth caution flag of the race comes out for Jeremy Clements who gets into the wall with a mechanical issue.
There are 26 cars on the lead lap.
Drivers come down pit road for that last set of sticker tires with John Hunter Nemechek winning the race off of pit road but Justin Allgaier and Alex Labbe stayed out on the track.
Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with Alex Labbe on the outside with just 33 laps remaining in the race. Allgaier gets out in front for the lead but Joh Hunter Nemechek comes up from third to battle for the lead. Nemechek takes the lead.
With 32 to go the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Sammy Smith, Justina Allgaier, Cole Custer, and Josh Berry.
Cole Custer passes Justin Allgaier for third.
Riley Herbst and Sam Mayer make contact and bring out the nineth caution flag of the race.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with Cole Custer alongside with just 19 laps remaining in the race. Nemechek jumps out in front for the lead with Sammy Smith in second; Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, and Josh Berry round out the top five.
Fifteen to go, John Hunter Nemechek has a third of a second lead on Sammy Smith; Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, and Josh Berry round out the top five as drivers get more aggressive through the field.
Ten to go, Justin Allgaier is falling back in the field on older tires. John Hunter Nemechek leads the race with Cole Custer in second; Sammy Smith, Josh Berry, and Justin Allgaier rounding out the top five.
Justin Allgaier and Brandon Jones battle for fifth.
Six to go and John Hunter Nemechek has a half second dlead on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Josh Berry, and Brandon Jones round out the top five.
Three to go, John Hunter Nemechek continues to dominate the race with a lead of over half a second on Cole Custer.
John Hunter Nemechek takes the white flag.
After leading nearly 200 laps, John Hunter Nemechek wins race number two for this season. Nemechek also wins the Dash-4-Cash $100,000 prize.
Nemechek set his car on fire doing a burnout; similar to what Zane Smith did at COTA Even the track is on fire.
The unofficial results of the Call 811.com Before You Dig 250:
John Hunter Nemechek
Sammy Smith
Cole Custer
Brandon Jones
Justin Allgaier
Danniel Hemric
Derek Kraus
Brett Moffitt
Chandler Smith
Parker Retzlaff
Ryan Truex
Blaine Perkins
Jeb Burton
Kaz Grala
Parker Kligerman
Austin Hill
Ryan Sieg
Josh Williams
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Patrick Emerling
Matt Mills
Gray Gaulding
Anthony Alfredo
Leland Honeyman
Alex Labbe
Sheldon Creed
Ryan Ellis
Brennan Poole
Riley Herbst
Sam Mayer
Jeremy Clements
Kyle Weatherman
Conor Mosack
Kyle Sieg
Dawson Cram
Joe Graf Jr
Kaden Honeycutt
JGR Dominates Martinsville in Xfinity Race
