Last week Riley Herbst became the first playoff driver of the season to win a race with the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

This week it is race number two of the round of eight with all eight of the playoff drivers still looking to secure a spot in the Championship Four.  Currently John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, and Cole Custer are above the cutline; while Chandler Smith, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, and Sheldon Creed are all below the cut line.

Foty-one teams brought cars to Homestead-Miami Speedway for 38 starting spots in the Contender Boats 300; including a Rocket Man and an Earnhardt…actually two of them.  Ryan Newman will be a part of the race; as will Dale Earnhardt Jr for his second race of the season.  In his last race at Bristol, Dale Jr’s car caught on fire and even burned a hole in the leg of his fire suit; this time around,, JR is hoping for a much better finish.

Sammy Smith has never been to Homestead-Miami and is making his first laps on the track.

The track is very abrasive on tires with lap times falling of two seconds after just seven laps on the track during practice.

John Hunter Nemechek is favoured to win the race but it is Cole Custer who led the field during the 20 minute practice session.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 33.583 seconds around the mile and a half track.  It took 13 drivers before Kyle Weatherman beat out Dale Jr during qualifying.

Patrick Emerling got very loose on his qualifying run and got the car sideways before he straightened it up and saved the car.

Ryan Ellis has an issue with his car and drops fluid on the track.  NASCAR stops qualifying temporarily to check the track. 

Earlier this week, Jeremy Clements announced that every race has been sponsorships for next season.

Austin Hill is the first driver to break the 33 second mark with a time of 32.940 seconds.

For the first time in three weeks, John Hunter Nemechek takes to the track to make a qualifying run.

After topping the leaderboard during practice, Cole Custer posts a time of 32.608 to put his double zero on the pole for his 18th career pole and sixth of the season.  John Hunter Nemechek will start alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Contender’s Boats 300:
Cole Custer
John Hunter Nemechek
Justin Allgaier
Austin Hill
Sammy Smith
Brett Moffitt
Riley Herbst
Josh Berry
Sheldon Creed
Parker Kligerman
Joe Graf Jr
Chandler Smith
Sam Mayer
Ryan Sieg
Daniel Hemric
Parker Retzlaff
Brandon Jones
Kyle Weatherman
Kaz Grala
Derek Kraus
Connor Mosack
Jeremy Clements
Kale Earnhardt Jr
Ryan Newman
Kyle Sieg
Josh Williams
Leland Honeyman
Jeb Burton
Brennan Poole
Mason Maggio
Anthony Alfredo
Dawson Cram
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Blaine Perkins
Mason Massey
Patrick Emerling
Ryan Ellis
CJ McLaughlin

JJ Yeley, Matt Mills, and Natalie Decker failed to qualify for the race.

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 mile and a half track.

Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane with John Hunter Nemechek alongside.  Custer gets out in front for the lead with Austin Hill and John Hunter Nemechek in a battle for second.

Drivers are three wide across the track.

Lap two, Cole Custer leads the race with Justin Allgaier in second; Austin Hill, John Hunter Nemechek, and Josh Berry round out the top five.

After starting in 23rd, Dale Earnhardt Jr has entered the top 20.

Lap four, Cole Custer has a third of a second lead on Justin Allgaier with John Hunter Nemechek over a second behind the leader; Josh Berry and Austin Hill round out the top five.

Lap seven, Cole Custer holds on to a third of a second lead on Justin Allgaier; John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill, and Josh Berry round out the top five.  Dale Jr has moved up to 15th.

Lap 10, Cole Custer has pulled out to a half second lead on Justin Allgaier; John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill, and Josh Berry round out the top five.  Dale Jr is now in 14th; on Sheldon Creed’s bumper.

Lap 13, Cole Custer continues to increase his lead on Justin Allgaier.  John Hunter Nemechek battles with Justin Allgaier for second and takes the spot.

Dale Jr reports on the radio that something is coming out of Sheldon Creed’s car.  Creed reports that everything is fine in his car.

Lap 19, Cole Custer has a lead of over half a second on John Hunter Nemechek; Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, and Sammy Smith round out the top five.

Leader Cole Custer has begun to lap cars and there are 35 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 23, Cole Custer has pulled out to a lead of over a second on John Hunter Nemchek.

Riley Herbst is reporting some radio issues in his car.

Lap 26, Cole Custer now has a two second lead on John Hunter Nemechek with 33 cars on the lead lap.

Ryan Newman brings his car down pit road for an unscheduled pit stop.

Justin Allgaier reports that he is “wrecking loose”.

Lap 30, the top five are Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, and Sam Mayer.

Lap 36, Cole Custer has a lead of over a second on John Hunter Nemechek.  Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed make contact in a battle for fifth but they save the cars and the track stays green.

Lap 37, the top five are Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Sheldon Creed.  There are 29 cars on the lead lap.

The drivers have moved up the track and are riding up near the wall.

With six laps remaining in stage one, Cole Custer’s lead on John Hunter Nemechek is un a second; Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.

CJ McLaughlin is on pit road with a fire in his car.

Ryan Newman is out of the race.

Four laps remain in stage one; Cole Custer’s lead is down to just half a second.

Sam Mayer has passed teammate Justin Allgaier for third.

Sheldon Creed and Justin Allgaier battle for fourth.  Sheldon Creed and Brett Moffitt pass Justin Allgaier

Mason Maggio is on pit road with one lap remaining in stage one.

Cole Custer wins stage one for his fifth stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Cole Custer
Sam Mayer
John Hunter Nemechek
Sheldon Creed
Brett Moffitt
Justin Allgaier
Riley Herbst
Austin Hill
Kaz Grala
Daniel Hemric

Drivers come down pit road for service with Cole Custer winning the race off of pit road.  While he led every lap in stage one, Custer reported a tight condition in his car.

Brandon Jones was penalized for having a crew member come over the wall too soon.  Josh Williams was penalized for pit interference.  Both drivers will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Mason Massey reports that his car is almost undrivable tight.

Cole Custer brins the field down for the green flag start of stage two from the outside lane with Sam Mayer alongside on lap 53.  Mayer edges out Custer for the lead but Custer comes back to battle for the position.  Cole Custer gets back out in front for the lead.

The top five are Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, John Hunter Nemechek, and Austin Hill.

Justin Allgaier and Sam Mayer battle for second with Allgaier taking the spot.

Sam Mayer describes his tires like Scooby Doo sliding across the floor.

Lap 60, Cole Custer has a half second lead on Justin Allgaier.  Sam Mayer and John Hunter Nemechek battle for third.

There are 27 cars on the lead lap with one driver out of the race and one off the track.

Austin Hill and Riley Herbst battle for fifth.

Lap 67, the top five are Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, John Hunter Nemechek, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst.

Chandler Smith gets loose but the track stays green

The caution flag comes out on lap 67 when Dawson Cram is stopped in the grass with a tire rolling down the track.

A few drivers come down pit road for service; leaders stay out.

Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap 73 with John Hunter Nemechek on the inside.  Nemechek jumps out in front for the lead as the drivers get three and four wide across the track.

The top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, Perker Kligerman, and Justin Allgiaer.

Dawson Cram is out of the race.

Justin Allgaier passes Parker Kligerman for fourth.

On fresh tires, Derek Kraus is barreling through the field and is currently in fourth place.  He is running laps four and five seconds faster on fresh tires.

Lap 78, Derek Kraus is the new leader; a half second out in front of John Hunter Nemechek.

Lap 79, the top five are Derek Kraus, John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, and Justin Allgaier.

Lap 83, Also on fresh tires, Kyle Sieg has moved up to fifth place.

With three laps remaining in stage two, Derek Kraus has a two second lead on John Hunter Nemechek; Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.

Derek Kraus wins stage two for his first ever stage win.

the top 10 at the end of stage two:
Derek Kraus
John Hunter Nemechek
Cole Custer
Sam Maher
Justin Allgaier
Parker Kligerman
Kyle Sieg
Riley Herbst
Austin Hill
Daniel Hemric

Drivers come down pit road for service with Cole Custer winning the race off of pit road; Justin Allgaier was second.

Josh Berry was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Only six of the eight playoff drivers have earned stage points for today.

Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag star of stage three with Justin Allgaier alongside on lap 97.  The caution flag come out for a crash involving playoff driver Chandler Smith and Brett Moffitt.  Brandon Jones and Derek Kraus were also a part of a four wide battle when the crash occurred.  There is significant damage to Chandler Smith’s car.

Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 104 with Justin Allgaier getting out in front as the drivers get three and four wide across the track.

The top five are Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, John  Hunter Nemechek, and Austin Hill.  Dale Jr has been mired back in 14th with an ill handling car.

Sam Mayer and Cole Custer battle for second.

Leader Justin Allgaier reports that he either has a loose wheel or a tire coming apart.  His crew reports that the lug nuts are tight.

Lap 111, Cole Custer has passed Justin Allgaier for the lead.  Sam Mayer has taken second place from his teammate Justin Allgaier.

Cole Custer has a lead of just under half a second on Sam Mayer; Justin Allgaier, Riley Herbst, and John Hunter Nemechek round out the top five.

Lap 115, Cole Custer has pulled out to a lead of a second and a half on Sam Mayer.

Dale Earnhardt Jr has entered the top 10 in ninth place.

Lap 118, Dale Jr battles with Sammy Smith for seventh.

Lap 120, Justin Allgaier brings his car down pit road after reports of a tire issue.  There was indeed a tire with a loose lug nut  on Allgaier’s car.

Ryan Sieg also comes down pit road for service with a flat tire.

Parker Kligerman comes down pit road after getting into the wall.

Lap 124, Cole Custer has pulled out to a lead of nearly three seconds on Sam Mayer; Riley Herbst, John Hunter Nemechek, and Austin Hill round out the top five with Dale Jr just outside the top five in sixth.

There are 72 laps remaining in the race with Cole Custer comminating the race with a three second lead on Sam Mayer; Riley Herbst, John Hunter Nemechek, and Austin Hill round out the top five.  Dale Jr is in sixth place.

Lap 133, Justin Allgaier has moved through the field and is just behind leader Cole Custer and is about to unlap himself.  The crew reports that the threads may be stripped on the wheel from waiting so long to replace the loose wheel.

Lap 138, drivers begin making green flag pit stops.

Lap 140, leader Cole Custer comes down pit road for his service and gives the lead over to Derek Kraus.

Chandler Smith takes his car behind the wall with smoke coming out of the tail pipe

Kaz Grala comes down pit road with some heavy smoke.  He hits one of his tires while exiting pit road.

Lap 146, Derek Kraus has a lead of over a second on Cole Custer; Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill round out the top five.

With 51 laps to go, Cole Custer is back in the lead with Sam Mayer in second; Derek Kraus, Justin Allgaier, and Austin Hill round out the top five.

Leader Cole Custer is slowing on the track with a flat tire.  He has led 114 laps so far today.   He had to limp all the way around the track to get back to pit road.

Sam Mayer is the new leader.

With 47 laps to go Sam Mayer has a four and a half second lead on Austin Hill; John Hunter Nemechek, Riley Herbst, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.

Justin Allgaier is back on pit road; saying that he cannot go any further on the current tires.

Cole Custer was charged with too many crew members over the wall too soon.  He will have to serve a  pass through penalty.

Chandler Smith is out of the race.  Smith is rooting for “June Bug” Dale Earnhardt Jr to win the race.  JR is currently in eighth place.

Forty-four to go; the top five are Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, Riley Herbst, John Hunter Nemechek, and Sheldon Creed.

Just 37 laps remain in the race with Sam Mayer out in front by over three seconds.

There is a tire leaning against the outside of the pit wall; bringing out the caution flag.

There are only 13 cars on the lead lap.

Drivers come down pit road with Sheldon Creed staying out on the track.  Sam Mayer wins the race off of pit road.

Sheldon Creed brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 30 laps remaining in the race with Sam Mayer alongside.  Driver immediately get three wide and pass all around Sheldon Creed with Sam Mayer taking the lead.  Josh Berry gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag.  A loose Dale Jr sent his JR Motorsports car into the wall.

Dale Jr reports a flat tire.

Sam Mayer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Austin Hill alongside with 23 laps remaining in the race.  Mayer edges out in front for the lead with Austin Hill and Riley Herbst in a battle for second.  Drivers are getting four wide across the track in a battle for position.

The top five are Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, John Hunter Nemechek, Riley Herbst, and Brandon Jones.

John Hunter Nemechek passes Austin Hill for second with 20 to go.

Sixteen to go, leader Sam Mayer is riding up against the wall and has a lead of over a second on John Hunter Nemechek; Riley Herbst, Austin Hill, and  Dale Earnhardt Jr rounding out the top five.

Jeb Burton manages to get his car to pit road without bringing out the caution flag after hitting the wall.

Ten to go, Sam Mayer has a lead of over a second on John Hunter Nemechek; Riley Herbst, Austin Hill, and Dale Earnhardt Jr round out the top five.

With eight laps to go, Riley Herbst passes John Hunter Nemechek  for second.

Five to go, Sam Mayer holds on to a lead of over a second on Riley Herbst.  Cole Custer Ryan Sieg for the “lucky dog” spot.

Just three laps remain in the rac; Riley Herbst has closed the gap on leader Sam Mayer to just over half a second.

Two laps to go, Sheldon Creed brings his smoking car down pit road.

Sam Mayer takes the white flag with Riley Herbst on his bumper.

Sam Mayer wins the race and secures a spot in the Championship Four!  This is Mayer’s fourth win.

JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr ran two races this year – Bristol and Homestead-Miami – with one of his drivers winning both races – Justin Allgaier at Bristol and Sam Mayer at Homestead-Miami.

The unofficial results of the Contender’s Boats 300:
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst
John Hunter Nemechek
Austin Hill
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Daniel Hemric
Parker Kligerman
Brandon Jones
Sammy Smith
Joe Graf Jr
Derek Kraus
Parker Retzlaff
Cole Custer
Ryan Sieg
Justin Allgaier
Kyle Weatherman
Josh Williams
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Brennan Poole
Jeb Burton
Jeremy Clements
Kyle Sieg
Lelan Honeyman
Ryan Ellis
Patrick Emerling
Sheldon Creed
Mason Massey
Anthony Alfredo
Blaine Perkins
Kaz Grala
Connor Mosack
Josh Berry
Mason Maggio
Chandler Smith
Brett Moffitt
Dawson Cram
CJ McLaughlin
Ryan Newman