On an early Saturday morning, the Xfinity Series takes to the track for two 15 minute practice sessions before making a qualifying run for the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225.
Eight races remain in the regular season for the Xfinity Series as the season begins to slowly wind down. Six of the available 12 playoff spots are taken up with race winners.
Thirty-eight teams brought cars to Pocono Raceway including Cup Series drivers William Byron and Josh Berry; with the winner of the truck series race last night Corey Heim.
Austin Hill and Cole Custer are the only drivers in the field who have previously won a race at Pocono.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Dawson Cram who set a time of 56.569 seconds around the two and a half mile track.
Sheldon Creed posted a time of 53.810 seconds; the first driver to break the 54 second mark and puts his number 81 car on the pole with Brandon Jones starting alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225:
Sheldon Creed
Brandon Jones
Justin Allgaier
Taylor Gray
Chandler Smith
William Byron
Ryan Sieg
Cole Custer
Sammy Smith
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Hill
Sam Mayer
Parker Retzlaff
Josh Berry
Parker Kligerman
Anthony Alfredo
Jeb Burton
Riley Herbst
Jesse Love
Dainiel Dye
Kyle Weatherman
Josh Williams
Matt DiBenedetto
Jeremy Clements
Corey Heim
Shane van Gisbergen
Brennan Poole
Laland Honeyman
Josh Bilicki
Ryan Ellis
Mason Massey
Patrick Emerling
Kyle Sieg
Ryan Truex
Blaine Perkins
Dawson Cram
Thomas Annunziata
Stephen Malllozzi
When the engines crank this afternoon, it will be Xfinity Series start number 100 for Austin Hill.
Jesse Love, Taylor Gray, Ryan Truex, and Josh Berry will have to start the race from the back of the field after crews discovered some brake issues. Brennan Poole is also starting at the back of the field after failing inspection; he will also have to serve a pass through penalty and will lose his pit stall selection for next week.
Stages one and two are 20 laps each with stage three lasting 50 laps for a total of 90 laps around the two and a half mile track. The drivers can run 36 to 38 laps on a single load of fuel.
Sheldon Creed brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Brandon Jones alongside. Creed and Jones go side by side into turn one with Shleodn Creed getting out in front on lap two.
Dawson Cram gets into the wall hard to bring out the first caution flag of the race when he gets into the wall. Cram reported that he had no brakes.
Sheldon Creed brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap seven from the inside lane with Brandon Jones alongside. Drivers spread out a bit getting three wide across the track. Sheldon Creed gets out in front for the lead with Chandler Smith in second; Justin Allgaier, William Byron, and Brandon Jones round out the top five.
Lap eight, in a three way battle, Justin Allgaier gets out in front for the lead with Chandler Smith in second and Sheldon Creed in third.
Josh Berry makes an unscheduled pit stop for a flat tire.
Brandon Jones is falling through the field and makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with a tire issue.
Lap 10, the top five are Justin Allgaier, Chandler smith, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, and William Byron.
Josh Bilicki is off the track with Dawson Cram out of the race. Josh Berry and Brandon Jones are one lap down after making pit stops for tire issues.
Lap 15, Justin Allgaier leads the race with Chandler Smith in second; Cole Custer, William Byron, and Austin Hill round out the top five.
Lap 16, Josh Berry’s car is smoking and he makes a second unscheduled trip down pit road.
With four laps remaining in stage one, Justin Allgaier has pulled out to a lead of over four seconds on Cole Custer; Chandler Smith, William Byron, and AJ Allmendinger round out the top five.
Over four seconds out in front, Justin Allgaier is reporting an increase in engine temperatures.
With a lead of over four seconds, Justin Allgaier wins stage one for his eleventh stage win this season
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Justin Allgaier
Cole Custer
Chandler Smith
William Byron
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Hill
Riley Herbst
Ryan Sieg
Sammy Smith
Sheldon Creed
Drivers come down pit road for service with Cole Custer edging out Justin Allgaier for the race off of pit road.
Justin Allgaier was charged with an equipment interference when a tire got loose – rolled into the pit stall next to it. Allgaier will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Anthony Alfredo was caught speeding on pit road.
After staying out on the track, Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Cole Custer alongside on lap 26. Leaders go side by side with drivers spread out three wide. Cole Custer edges out for the lead. William Byron drops in the field, he reports a possible tire issue.
Lap 27, the caution flag comes out for debris on the track – a tire carcass is on the track. The caution was a break for Byron who comes down pit road for a tire change.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chandler Smith alongside on lap 31. Getting a push from Austin Hill, Chandler Smith edges in front but Cole Custer comes up on the outside to take the lead.
The top five are Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Riley Herbst, and Jesse Love.
Lap 33, Cole Custer has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second and a half on Chandler Smith; Austin Hill, Riley Herbst, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Lap 34, after serving a penalty at the end of stage one, Justin Allgaier is inside the top 20 in 18th.
Lap 35, Cole Custer has increased his lead to over two seconds on Chandler Smith; Austin Hill, Riley Herbst, and AJ Allmendinger round out the top five.
Lap 35, Justin Allgaier is now inside the top 15 in 13th.
Lap 36, after his tire issue, William Byron has advance 17 spots to 17th.
Lap 37, Cole Custer now has a lead of nearly three and a half seconds on Chandler Smith.
Jesse Love and Sam Mayer come down pit road to short pit the end of stage two.
With a lead of nearly four seconds, Cole Custer wins stage two for his third stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Cole Custer
Chandler Smith
Austin Hill
Riley Herbst
Ryan Sieg
AJ Allmendinger
Sheldon Creed
Sammy Smith
Corey Heim
Justin Allgaier
Drivers come down pit road for service with Austin Hill winning the race off of pit road.
Jeremy Clements was charged with a safety violation during his pit stop.
After moving up to 12th place, William Byron stays our on the track; as do Anthony Alfredo, Jesse Love, and Sam Mayer.
The day started out as a “Chamber of Commerce Day” but now there is rain on the way.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 47 with Sam Mayer alongside. Leaders are two by two but back in the field the drivers are four and five wide.
The caution flag comes out for a crash involving Brennan Poole, Parker Retzlaff, Leland Honeyman, and Ryan Ellis. Brennan Poole’s car was smoking.
Some drivers come down pit road for service.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 50 with Jesse Love getting out in front. AJ Allmendinger spins out but saves the car and the track stays green.
Lap 52, Jesse Love leads the race with William Byron on Love’s bumper; Austin Hill, Cole Custer, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Riley Herbst has a bit os smoke coming from his car – possible tire rub.
Justin Allgaier reports a big vibration.
AJ Allmendinger comes down pit road for service.
Parker Retzlaff has a flat tire and has to make an unscheduled trip down pit road.
William Byron and Jesse Love battle for the lead with 36 laps remaining in the race. Austin Hill is right behind them and makes it a three wide battle. William Byron wins the battle to take the lead.
Lap 55, William Byron leads the race with Austin Hill in second; Cole Custer, Jesse Love, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Ryan Ellis and Josh Bilicki are out of the race.
With 33 laps remaining in the race, William Byron has a half second lead on Austin Hill; Cole Custer, Jesse Love, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Thirty to go, Sheldon Creed makes his green flag pit stop.
Jesse Love comes down pit road for service. He has a tire get loose and a crew member has to chase it down. He has been charged with an uncontrolled tire and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
With 28 laps to go leaders William Byron and Cole Custer come down pit road for service. Austin Hill is the new leader.
More drivers come down pit road for service. Ryan Sieg is the new leader.
Riley Herbst was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
With 25 laps to go, Justin Allgaier’s team reports that they are three laps short of making it on fuel. He is now in juel conservation mode and does not plan on making another pit stop.
Leader Ryan Sieg comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Justin Allgaier.
The caution flag comes out when Stephen Mallozzi is stopped on the track.
Several drivers come down pit road but leader Justin Allgaier stays out on the track.
Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 16 laps remaining in the race. Allgaier jumps out in front for the lead but a three wide battle going into turn one.
Jeremy Clements spins out and collects Mason Massey to bring out the caution flag.
This is the ninth race at Pocono for the Xfinity Series with eight different winner so far.
What appeared to be a fire and smoke outside the track turned out to be spray from some hoses.
Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag restart with Cole Custer alongside with just 12 laps to go. Justin Allgaier gets out in front to hold on to the lead with Cole Custer in second; William Byron, Sheldon Creed, and Anthony Alfredo rounding out the top five.
Ten to go, Justin Allgaier has a tenth of a second lead on Cole Custer; William Byron, Sheldon Creed, and Anthony Alfredo round out the top five.
Cole Custer goes way wide trying to pass Justin Allgaier. He takes the lead going into turn two. Justin Allgaier continues the battle.
Shane van Gisbergen spins out in tenth place to bring out the caution flag with seven laps remaining in the race. Sam Mayer made contact with van Gisbergen before the spin.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Justin Allgaier on the inside. There are just four laps remaining in the race. After a push from William Byron, Justin Allgaier gets out in front but Cole Custer comes up to retake the lead.
Three to go, Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, and William Bryon are nose to tail.
Shane van Gisbergen spins out but the track stays green.
Cole Custer takes the white flag.
For his first win of the season…and Ford’s…Cole Custer wins the race.
The unofficial results of the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225:
Cole Custer
Justin Allgaier
William Byron
Sheldon Creed
Taylor Gray
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Hill
Parker Kligerman
Sammy Smith
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst
Ryan Sieg
Brandon Jones
Anthony Alfredo
Chandler Smith
Corey Heim
Daniel Dye
Josh Williams
Ryan Truex
Kyle Sieg
Jeb Burton
Jesse Love
Kyle Weatherman
Matt DiBenedetto
Leland Honeyman
Brennan Poole
Josh Berry
Thomas Annunziata
Mason Massey
Jeremy Clements
Shane van Gisbergen
Parker Retzlaff
Patrick Emerling
Blaine Perkins
Stephen Mallozzi
Ryan Ellis
Josh Berry
Dawson Cram