NASCAR heads north to New Hampshire for the Xfinity and Cup Series this weekend. The Xfinity Series gets the double header started with the Sci Aps 200.
New Hampshire offers one of the most unique trophies to the race winners…a giant 20 plus pound lobster!
Thirty-nine teams brought cars to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for 38 starting spots including Cup Series drivers Christopher Bell and Alex Bowman.
The drivers have been divided not two groups for practice with the weather a bit iffy. The drivers no sooner got the engines fired and warmed up when NASCAR put out the red flag with rain on the track.
When the green flag drops on Saturday, Sam Mayer will make Xfinity Series start number 100!
Modified champion racer Justin Bonsignore is making his Xfinity Series debut this week.
Practice has been cancelled due to the rain, but NACAR is going to dry the track and have the drivers qualify for the race.
The 27 car driven by Jeb Burton got loose in the hauler on the way to Loudon and had some damage the crew had to repair including a large hole in the nose.
Due to an increase in the rain, practice and qualifying has been cancelled. The field will be set by NASCAR’s metiric with Jade Buford not making the race.
The starting lineup for the Sci Aps 200:
Cole Custer
Chandler Smith
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst
Sheldon Creed
Sammy Smith
Corey Heim
Parker Kligerman
Ryan Sieg
Matt DiBenedetto
Anthony Alfredo
Justin Allgaier
Austin Hill
Leland Honeyman
Jesse Love
Ryan Ellis
Josh Williams
Jeremy Clements
Kyle Sieg
Jeb Burton
Brennan Poole
AJ Allmendinger
Christopher Bell
Parker Retzlaff
Justin Bonsignore
Nathan Byrd
Patrick Emerling
Shane van Gisbergen
Brandon Jones
Hailie Deegan
Mason Massey
Kyle Weatherman
Blaine Perkins
Garrett Smithley
Glen Reen
Armani Williams
Alex Bowman
Carson Kvapil
In an attempt to avoid weather delays, NASCAR has gotten the Xfinity drivers started a bit early. After a lap around the track, NASCAR has brought the drivers down pit road and into their pit stalls while they determine whether or not to replace the racing slicks with wet weather tires.
Parker Retzlaff will start the race from the back of the field after the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the car after Retzlaff loses his starting spot and he will have to serve a pass through penalty once the green flag drops.
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 flat one mile track known as “The Magic Mile”.
Some crews are reporting that it is too dry for wet weather tires and too dry for racing slicks.
In a history making event, NASCAR has told the crews to change to the wet weather tires. However the cars have not been equipped with a windshield wiper. The cars have defoggers and Rain-X on the windshield.
There are no apparent wet spots or puddles on the track and it is difficult for the drivers to tell where the damp spots are.
With the tire situation under control, Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Chandler Smith alongside. Drivers immediately spread out three and four wide through the field. Cole Custer gets out in front from the outside lane.
Matt DiBenedetto had a gear issues, causing the drivers to spread out to avoid a crash.
Lap two, Cole Custer leads the race with Riley Herbst in second; Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Lap four, a groove is already forming on the track.
Lap five, Cole Custer has a one second lead on Riley Herbst; Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, and Parker Kligerman round out the top five.
Cole Custer reports that they must manage to ttires to keep them from tearing up.
Lap eight, Cole Custer has a one second lead on Riley Herbst; Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, and Austin Hill round out the top five.
Starting the race in 13th, Austin Hill is now in fourth place. He is the only driver in the field to have tested a wet weather tire on an oval with a tire test at Martinsville.
Ten laps in, NASCAR has displayed the competition caution with significant tire wear in the wet weather tires.
All of the drivers come down pit road for the dry racing slicks. NASCAR has deemed the stop a competitive stop and will allow the drivers to make whatever adjustments they wish; as long as, they put the racing slicks on the cars.
Chandler Smith is having some major handling issues with his car.
The drivers reported it was fun on the wet weather tires but they could feel the fall off.
Cole Custer wins the race off of pit road.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Austin Hill alongside on lap 17. Austin Hill takes the lead on the inside lane.
Christopher Bell started the race back in 23rd; he restarted the race in fourth. Bell has been in three of the Xfinity races at Loudon and has won all three of them.
Lap 19, Austin Haill and Cole custer battle for the lead with Custer sliding up in front; Sammy Smith, Christopher Bell, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.
Riley Herbst passes Parker Kligerman for seventh.
Lap 22, Cole Custer has a near one second lead on Austin Hill; Sammy Smith, Christopher Bell, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
Lap 24, Cole Custer now has a lead of a second and a half on Austin Hill; Sammy Smith, Christopher Bell, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 28 after Patrick Emerling loses power.
A few drivers come down pit road for fresh tires and adjustments.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Austin Hill alongside with 12 laps remaining in stage one. Custer takes the lead; Christopher Bell and Austin Hill battle for second. Drivers are getting three wide back in the field.
Lap 34, the top five are Cole Custer, Christoher Bell, Corey Heim, Austin Hill, and Sammy Smith.
The caution flag comes out on lap 35 for a wreck involving Riley Herbst, AJ Allmendinger, and Parker Kligerman. Herbst made contact with Allmendinger; sending him into Kligerman who goes spinning.
Leaders come down pit road for service.. Sammy Smith is the new leader.
Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart with just six laps remaining in stage one. Smith jumps out in front for the lead with Sam Mayer coming up to battle for the lead. Sam Mayer is the new leader.
Five to go in stage one; Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, Riley Herbst, Alex Bowman, and AJ Allmendinger round out the top five.
Jeremy Clements gets slideways but saves the car and the track stays green.
Sam Mayer has a lead of nearly a second on Riley Herbst and Sammy Smith in a battle for second.
Sam Mayer wins stage one for his first stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Sam Mayer
Sammy Smith
Riley Herbst
AJ Allmendinger
Justin Allgaier
Alex Bowman
Carson Kvapil
Ryan Sieg
Jeb Burton
Justin Bonsignore
Justin Allgaier wins the race off of pit road after not taking any fuel or changing tires with Parker Retzlaff out second also taking fuel only.
Justin Allgaier was called down pit road after reports of smoking from the car.
Justin Bonsignore brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Christopher Bell alongside on lap 53. Christopher Bell takes the lead.
Lap 55, the top five are Christopher Bell, Justin Bonsignore, Sheldon Creed, Austin Hill, and Corey Heim.
Lap 58, all 38 of the car that started the race are on the track; Patrick Emerling is the only driver not on the lead lap four laps down.
Lap 58, Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Justin Bonsignore; Sheldon Creed, Corey Heim, and Cole Custer round out the top five.
After an unscheduled pit stop, Justin Allgaier has moved up inside the top 10 in ninth.
Lap 63, Christopher Bell has pulled out to a lead of over a second and a half on Justin Bonsignore; Sheldon Creed, Corey Heim, and Cole Custer round out the top five.
Lap 67, Christopher Bell now has a lead of over two seconds on Justin Bonsignore; Sheldon Creed, Cole Custer, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
Lap 74, Christopher Bell has a near two second lead on Justin Bonsignore; Sheldon Creed, Cole Custer, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
Lap 78, drivers five through eight are separated by just six tenths of a second.
Sam Mayer has some major radio issues.
Lap 79, there are 30 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 80, Christopher Bell has increased his lead ot over two seconds.
With eight laps remaining in stage two Christopher Bell has pulled out to a three second lead on Justin Bonsignore; Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, and Chandler smith round out the top five.
Justin Allgaier is also have the same rado issues as teammate Sam Mayer.
With a lead of nearly four seconds, Christopher Bell wins stage two. He has lapped several of the slower cars in the process.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Christopher Bell
Justin Bonsignore
Cole Custer
Sheldon Creed
Chandler Smith
Justin Allgaier
Corey Heim
Brandon Jones
Austin Hill
Parker Kligerman
Cole Custer wins the race off of pit road.
Justin Allgaier had a slow pit stop after issues with tightening lug nuts.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 98 with Christopher Bell alongside. Custer gets out in front for the lead as drivers get three wide back in the field.
The top five are Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Christopher Bell, Sheldon Creed, and Justin Bonsignore.
The caution flag comes out on lap 101 when Armani Williams spins out.
Leland Honeyman spins out under caution with something broken on the car.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Christopher Bell alongside on lap 105. Custer holds on to the lead.
The top five are Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Christopher Bell, Justin Bonsignore, and Corey Heim.
There are just 28 cars on the lead lap with Leland Honeyman the only driver out of the race.
Lap 111, Cole Custer has a half second lead on Chandler smith; Christopher Bell, Justin Bonsignore, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
Sam Mayer’s crew has solved the radio issue; it is now much quieter on channel two.
Lap 117, Cole Custer has a lead of over half a second on Chandler smith; Christopher Bell, Justin Bonsignore, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
Lap 123, Cole Custer has a lead of a second and a half on Chandler Smith; t Bell, Justin Bonsignore, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.
Christopher Bell passes Chandler smith for second with leader Cole Custer two seconds out in front.
Lap 128, in his first ever Xfinity Series race, Justin Bonsignore passed Chandler smith on the outside for third place. Bonsignore won the Modified race earlier in the day.
Lap 131, since passing Chandler Smith for second, Christopher Bell has not made headway into the gap on leader Cole Custer who has a near three second lead.
Lap 137, Cole Custer continues to hold a near three second lead on Christopher Bell; Justin Bonsignore, Chandler Smith, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.
Lap 143, Cole Custer leads the race with Christopher Bell in second over three and a half seconds back; Jostin Bonsignore, chandler Smith, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.
There are 26 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 150, Christopher Bell is the first driver to come down pit road for a green flag pit stop.
Lap 151, leader Cole Custer makes his green flag pit stop; Chandler Smith is the new leader.
More drivers come down pit road for their pit stops and the cycle is in full force.
Corey Heim had a slow stop and then leaves pit road with the air gun still under the car as he pulls out.
Carson Kvapil leads the race with the top seven drivers still needing to make a pit stop with 13 cars on the lead lap.
With 41 laps remaining in the race, Carson Kvapil leads the race but has yet to make his pit stop. Once green flag pit stops cycle through, Cole Custer should retake the lead.
With 35 laps to go, Carson Kvapil has a lead of over three seconds on Brandon Jones.
Carson Kvapil finally makes his green flag pit stop with 34 laps remaining in the race. Cole Custer is the new leader.
The caution flag come out for Armani Williams spinning out with a flat tire on lap 168.
Drivers come down pit road for that last set of sticker tires. Cole Custer wins the race off of pit road.
After staying out on the track, Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag restart with Carson Kvapil alongside with just 26 laps remaining in the race. Drivers spread out three wide on the restart with Carson Kvapil taking the lead.
The top five are Carson Kvapil, Cole Custer, Jesse Love, Christopher Bell, and Chandler Smith.
Chandler Smith spins out to brings out the eighth caution flag of the race with 24 to go.
Carson Kvapil brings the field down for the green flag restart with Cole Custer on the inside lane. There are just 19 laps remaining in the race. Drivers spread out three wide on the restart. Cole Custer takes the lead but a crash brings out the caution flag. Timing loops will determine the racing order.
Justin Bonsignore, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Shane van Gisbergen, Kyle Weatherman, Alex Bowman, and Sammy Smith were all involved.
Austin Hill is on pit road with the crew trying to make repairs.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Carson Kvapil alongside with just 12 laps remaining in the race. Christopher Bell restarts the race in third place on his way to try and make it four wins in a row.
Cole Custer gets out in front with a three way battle for second.
The tenth caution flag comes out for a wreck involving Nathan Byrd and Hailie Deegan. Deegan makes big contact with Byrd; sending him into the wall.
With just six laps remaining in the race, Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Christopher Bell alongside. Cole Custer gets out in front but Christopher Bell comes up on the inside to battle for the lead.
The caution flag comes out with five laps to go. Mason Massey spins out. Hailie Deegan and Ryan Ellis were also involved. There is a lot of door foam laying on the track and must be cleaned up before the race continues.
The race goes into overtime!
Cole Custer brings the field down for the two lap overtime shootout for the win with Christopher Bell on the inside. Custer jumps out in front for the lead with Sheldon Creed taking second.
In a three wide battle Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, and Christopher Bell take the white flag. Christopher Bell gets out in front and takes the fourpete in the first ever final lap pass for the lead.
Sheldon Creed notches second place finish number 10 to tie Dale Jarrett for the record.
The unofficial results of the Sci Aps 200:
Christopher Bell
Sheldon Creed
Cole Custer
Justin Allgaier
Carson Kvapil
Ryan Sieg
Parker Kligerman
Riley Herbst
Alex Bowman
Corey Heim
AJ Allmendinger
Sammy Smith
Jesse Love
Brandon Jones
Chandler Smith
Brennan Poole
Matt DiBenedetto
Jeb Burton
Shane van Gisbergen
Sam Mayer
Anthony Alfredo
Jeremy Clements
Justin Bonsignore
Josh Williams
Austin Hill
Kyle Weatherman
Parker Retzlaff
Blaine Perkins
Glen Reen
Garrett Smithley
Mason Massey
Kyle Sieg
Hailie Deegan
Armani Williams
Ryan Ellis
Patrick Emerling
Nathan Byrd
Leland Honeyman