The Xfinity and Cup Series travels to the northeastern United States this weekend to Loudon, New Hampshire and the “Magic Mile”.
The Xfinity Series gets a full 20 minute practice session before qualifying for the Ambetter Health 250 on Saturday afternoon.
This weekend Joe Graf Jr is behind the wheel of the number 19 Joe Gibbs Racing car.
Sheldon Creed is on pit road with a throttle linkage issue.
Each of the NASCAR tracks has their own celebration for the winning driver; Martinsville has a grandfather clock, Texas has six shooters, Nashville has a guitar…and Loudon has a LIVE 20 plus pound lobster!
Ryan Sieg and Kaz Grala make heavy contact during practice and brings out the red flag. Both drivers have significant damage to their cars. Sieg reports that when he went to push the brakes, they went all the way to the floor with nothing.
Kaz Grala noted that he will have move a backup car tomorrow; adding that it is new territory for him because he has never been in a backup car.
A total of 38 teams brought cars to Loudon including Austin Dillon in the Kaulig Racing number 10 car to fill 38 starting spots.
Chad Finchum is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posts a time of 32.021 seconds around the one mile track.
Alex Labbe is the first driver to break the 31 second mark with a time of 30.888 seconds.
After their crash Kaz Grala and Ryan Sieg will not make a qualifying run.
Chandler Smith posts a time of 30.159 seconds to put his number 16 car on the pole for his third pole this season. This is Smith’s first trip to Loudon.
There are 10 drivers in the field who are making their first ever start at New Hampshire..
The lineup for the Ambetter Health 250:
Chandler Smith
John Hunter Nemechek
Josh Berry
Justin Allgaier
Brandon Jones
Cole Custer
Sammy Smith
Austin Hill
Austin Dillon
Sam Mayer
Daniel Hemric
Brett Moffitt
Parker Retzlaff
Riley Herbst
Parker Kligerman
Jeremy Clements
Sheldon Creed
Anthony Alfredo
Joe Graf Jr
Jeb Burton
Alex Labbe
Josh Williams
Kyle Weatherman
Brennan Poole
Connor Mosack
Kye Sieg
Rajah Caruth
Patrick Emerling
Ryan Ellis
Stefan Parsons
Chris Hacker
Blaine Perkins
Mason Massey
Chad Finchum
CJ McLaughlin
Grag van Last
Ryan Sieg
Kaz Grala
As the Xfinity Series prepares to race on “The Magic Mile”, the skies have clouded up and threaten to turn ugly. The cars are prepared for wet weather racing and the wet weather tires are in the pits.
Sammy Smith, Jeb Burton, Patrick Emerling, Ryan Sieg, and Greg van Last will all have to start the race from the back of the field after crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars. The number 44 car of Rajah Caruth will star the race at the back of the field after a tire change and Kaz Grala starts at the back of the field in a backup car after crashing during practice and not making a qualifying run. Sammy Smith’s team arrived at the garage to find a puddle from an oil leak.
Stages one and two of the race are 45 laps each with stage three lasting 110 laps for a total of 200 laps around the one mile track. Drivers can run 75 to 80 laps on a single load of fuel and will have to make a stop for fuel in the third stage of the race.
Justin Allgaier is the only driver in today’s field who has won a race at New Hampshire and is defending that win in today’s race.
Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with John Hunter Nemechek alongside. Smith jumps out front for the lead as drivers get into a three wide battle for second with Justin Allgaier taking the spot and challenging for the lead.
Lap two, Justin Allgaier passes Chandler Smith for the lead; John Hunter Nemechek, Josh Berry, and Cole Custer round out the top five.
NASCAR is reviewing the race start.
Chandler Smith and John Hunter Nemechek battle for second.
Drives are battling for position all through the field.
Lap four Cole Custer passes Josh Berry for fourth.
Lap five, Justin Allgaier has a quarter second of a lead on John Hunter Nemechek; Chandler Smith, Cole Custer, and Josh Berry round out the top five./
John Hunter Nemechek battles Justin Allgaier for the lead.
Lap eight, the battle for the lead between Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek continues; Cole Custer gets past Chandler Smith for third.
Lap nine John Hunter Nemechek finally gets out in front for the lead after Justin Allgaier gets a bit loose.
Lap eleven, John Hunter Nemechek has nearly half a second lead on Justin Allgaier; Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, and Josh Berry round out the top five.
Lap 17, John Hunter Nemechek has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second on Justin Allgaier; Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, and Josh Berry round out the top five.
After starting from the back of the field in 33rd, Sammy Smith has entered the top 20 in 17th.
Lap 21, making his second Xfinity Series start, Greg van Last is three laps down.
Driving a backup car, Kaz Grala has moved up to 23rd.
Lap 23, Justin Allgaier has closed the gap on leader John Hunter Nemechek to just a tenth of a second and is beginning to challenge for the lead.
Lap 26, Justin Allgaier continues to put pressure on leader John Hunter Nemechek. Lap 27, Justin Allgaier passes John Hunter Nemechek to retake the lead but the two drivers continue to battle for the lead.
Lap 29, Greg van Last is off the track.
There are 34 cars on the lead lap as leader encounter slower traffic.
Lap 30, the battle for the lead continues between Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek. The two make contact but they recover and the track stays green. Leaders are mired in heavy traffic.
Lap 33, Justin Allgaier takes the lead and pulls a bit out in front.
Lap 34, Justin Allgaier is in the lead but John Hunter Nemechek is now facing pressure from Cole Custer as Custer begins to challenge for second.
Lap 37, Justin Allgaier has pulled out to a lead of over a second on John Hunter Nemechek; Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, and Josh Berry round out stage one.
The first caution flag of the race comes out with just four laps remaining in stage one when he gets loose with a flat tire and slides down the track.
Justin Allgaier wins stage one under caution.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Justin Allgaier
John Hunter Nemechek
Cole Custer
Chandler Smith
Josh Berry
Brandon Jones
Austin Dillon
Sam Mayer
Daniel Hemric
Austin Hill
Rajah Caruth has a heavily smoking car and reports a loss of oil pressure. There is also a lot of fluid on the camera on the car. The crew reports that a clamping device broke.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Chandler Smith winning the race off of pit road in a three way battle. Justin Allgaier came out second after having a slow start when he overshot the pit box and had to back up before the crew could work on the car. The crew changed only two tires.
Sammy Smith and Joe Graf Jr were caught speeding on pit road. Before he backed the car up, Justin Allgaier has been penalized for pitting outside of his pit box when the rear tire changer removed one of the lug nuts. He will have to restart the race from the back of the field. Since he has to serve the penalty, Allgaier brings his car back down pit road to change the other two tires.
Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 55 with John Hunter Nemechek alongside. Smith gets out in front for the lead but Nemechek comes up to battle for the lead.
Lap 56, the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Josh Berry, and Cole Custer.
Lap 57, Justin Allgaier is up to 25th after restarting the race from the back of the field.
Stefan Parsons and Greg van Last are off the track with Rajah Caruth still on pit road with an engine issue.
Lap 59, John Hunter Nemechek has pulled out to a lead of over half a second as Chandler Smith and Austin Hill battle for second.
Lap 61, Rajah Caruth returns to the track 14 laps down.
There are 27 cars on the lead lap. Justin Allgaier is just outside the top 20 in 21st.
Lap 63, John Hunter Nemechek has a near one second lead on Chandler Smith; Cole Custer, Austin HIll, and Josh Berry round out the top five. Justin Allgaier has entered the top 20.
The caution flag comes out on 66 for the number 66 car of Chad Finchum. He is stopped on pit road but not in his pit stall.
Some of the drivers come down pit road to top off the fuel tank but the leaders stay out on the track.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart but a big wreck ensues on the restart bringing out the caution flag. Justin Allgaier, Parker Kligerman, Ryan Sieg, Daniel Hemric, Blaine Perkins, Mason Massey, Jeremy Clements, Parker Retzlaff, Chris Hacker, Patrick Emerling, Ryan Ellis, Anthony Alfredo, and Alex Labbe were all involved in the restart crash on lap 71.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with only nine laps remaining in stage two. Nemechek jumps out in front for the lead with Josh Berry in second; Chandler Smith, Riley Herbst, and Cole Custer round out the top five.
With 25 cars on the lead lap, Justin Allgaier is in the top 20.
Parker Kligerman, Ryan Sieg, and Anthony Alfredo are out of the race. Chad Finchum is off the track.
Conor Mosack brings out the fourth caution flag of the race when he gets loose and slides into the wall. There are just five laps remaining in stage two.
Drivers come down pit road for service including the leaders. John Hunter Nemechek edges out Josh Berry to win the race off of pit road.
Afater staying out on the track, Parker Retzlaff brings the field down for the green flag restart with just two laps remaining in the stage. Sammy Smith passes Retzlaff for the lead.
Sammy Smith wins stage two for his first stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Sammy Smith
Parker Retzlaff
Sheldon Creed
Brandon Jones
Josh Williams
Justin Allgaier
Joe Graf Je
John Hunter Nemechek
Austin Dillon
Chandler Smith
Some drivers come down pit road for service.
Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Sheldon Creed alongside on lap 98. Smith and Creed go side by side with Sammy Smith getting out in front. Meanwhile, John Hunter Nemechek comes up to battle for third with Brandon Jones.
The top five are Sammy Smith, Sheldon Creed, John Hunter Nemechek, Brandon Jones and Joe Graf Jr. Damaged car and all, Justin Allgaier is just outside the top five in sixth.
Riley Herbst brings out the caution flag on lap 102 when he gets into the wall. The right front tire is not turning. Herbst makes contact with Austin Dillon before getting into the wall.
Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green restart on lap 108 with John Hunter Nemechek alongside. Nemechek gets out in front for the lead when Smith gets loose.
Drivers are three wide across the trackin a battle for position.
NASCAR is reviewing the restart.
Lap 110, the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Sammy Smith, Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, and Joe Graf Jr.
NASCAR had deemed the restart good.
Lap 114, John Hunter Nemechek has a narrow lead on his teammate Sammy Smith; Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, and Joe Graf Jr round out the top five. Driving a damaged car, Justin Allgaier is in the top 10 but has fallen a few spots.
Lap 118, John Hunter Nemechek has a lead of over a second on Sammy Smith; Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, and Joe Graf Jr round out the top five.
Lap 126, John Hunter Nemechek continues to lead the race with Sammy Smith nearly a second back; Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, and Joe Graf Jr round out the top five.
Justin Allgaier has dropped to 10th place over 10 seconds behind the leader.
Lap 132, John Hunter Nemechek continues to increase his lead and is now nearly two seconds in front of Sammy Smith.
Lap 139, John Hunter Nemechek now has a lead of over three seconds on Sammy Smith; Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, and Cole Custer round out the top five. Justin Allgaier has dropped out of the top 10 in eleventh. Allgaier topped the list of stage points earned this week with 15 and is already in the playoffs with a race win this season.
Brandon Jones passes Sheldon Creed for third.
There are 24 cars on the lead lap with seven cars out of the race.
Lap 142, John Hunter Nemechek continues to increase his lead on Sammy Smith and is now over four seconds out in front.
With 55 laps remaining in the race, John Hunter Nemechek has pulled out to a lead of over four and a half seconds on Sammy Smith.
Sheldon Creed is the first driver to come down pit road for his green flag pit stop.
Brandon Jones and Cole Custer battle for second.
With 51 to go, leader John Hunter Nemechek comes down pit road for his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Chandler Smith.
Sam Mayer pulled in too close to the wall on his pit stop so the crew only changed the right side tires.
Chandler Smith makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Joe Graf Jr.
With some of the drivers on the track yet to make a pit stop, there are 15 cars on the lead lap.
With 44 laps to go; the top five are Joe Graf Jr, Austin Dillon, Justin Allgaier, Josh Williams, and John Hunter Nemechek.
The caution flag comes out with 40 laps to go when Kyle Sieg spins out. He gets the car moving again. Josh Berry makes contact with Sieg when Sieg slows down to avoid hitting the slower car of Kyle Weatherman.
When pit road opens the drivers who have yet to come down pit road makes their pit stop. Joe Graf Jr gets into the wall making his pit stop.
Justin Allgaier reports that he has a very tight car.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with 33 laps remaining in the race with Sammy Smith alongside. Nemechek jumps out in front as the drivers get four wide. Brandon Jones got VERY loose but saved the car. Josh Berry has some major tire rub and is smoking heavily.
The top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, and Chandler Smith. There are 23 cars on the lead lap.
With 29 laps to go, John Hunter Nemechek has a lead of nearly a second on Cole Custer; Sammy smith, Chandler Smith, and Sam Mayer round out the top five. Just Allgaier is just utside the top five in sixth place.
Lap 180, 20 to go, John Hunter Nemechek has pulled out to a lead of a second and a half on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Chandler Smith, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Chandler Smith passes Sammy Smith for third.
Seventeen to go, sixth place driver Justin Allgaier is battling with teammate Sam Mayer for fifth.
Fifteen to go, Cole Custer has closed the gap on leader John Hunter Nemechek to just over a second.
Twelve to go, John Hunter Nemechek has increased his lead to nearly a second and a half on Cole Custer; Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Parker Retzlaff brings out the eighth caution flag of the day when he is turned around and stopped on the track after getting loose and into the wall.
John Hunter Nemechek has led 123 laps so far today.
A few drivers come down pit road for service including Josh Berry who had a heavily smoking car at the restart.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the restart with just four laps remaining in the race. Nemechek jumps out for the lead with Chandler Smith in second. Sammy Smith brings out the caution flag for a multi car crash. Joe Graf Jr has flames coming out of his car, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, Joe Graf Jr, Austin Dillon, Brandon Jones, and Connor Mosack were all involved. Sammy Smith rearended Sam Mayer to start the melee.
The race goes into over time!
Chandler Smith has asked for some medical help after the race. His crew chief reports that it is a hot day and he is dehydrated. His cool suit failed and was pumping hot water instead of cold. He will get a couple bags of fluids at the infield care center.
John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the overtime shootout to the end with Cole Custer on the inside. Nemechek jumps out in front for the lead with Chandler Smith, Cole Custer, and Sheldon Creed in a battle for second.
John Hunter Nemechek takes the white flag and a crash brings out the caution flag. Sheldon Creed and Cole Custer make contact and both drivers end up in the wall.
John Hunter Nemechek wins his fourth race of the season. Nemechek has finished in the top 10 in all but three races this season.
The unofficial results of the Ambetter Health 250:
John Hunter Nemechek
Chandler Smith
Austin Hill
Daniel Hemric
Sammy Smith
Justin Allgaier
Jeb Burton
Josh Williams
Brett Moffitt
Patrick Emerling
Mason Massey
Austin Dillon
Kaz Grala
Alex Labbe
Josh Berry
Sam Mayer
Ryan Ellis
Brandon Jones
Jeremy Clements
Riley Herbst
Sheldon Creed
Cole Custer
Kyle Sieg
Brennan Poole
Blaine Perkins
Connor Mosack
Kyle Weatherman
CJ McLaughlin
Joe Graf Jr
Chris Hacker
Parker Retzlaff
Parker Kligerman
Ryan Sieg
Anthony Alfredo
Chad Finchum
Stefan Parsons
Rajah Caruth
Greg van Alst