In a return to the Brickyard, the Xfinity and Cup Series drivers make a return to the 2.5 mile oval this year on the 30th anniversary of running at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thirty-eight teams have brought drivers to Indy for the Penzoil 250 including a return of Aric Almrola to the number 20 car and Josh Berry in the 15 car.
Half of the drivers in the field – 19 – have never run on the oval at IMS.
Ryan Sieg is still working his way to the track and has yet to make it to IMS, Noah Gragson is going to be driving the car during the 50 minute practice session. Like many people around the world, Ryan Sieg had his travel plans interrupted due to the global cyber interruptions last night.
As the regular season winds down, seven drivers have locked themselves into the playoffs with race wins.
The rules package for the Xfinity Series race includes using the same engines in the cars that are used at Daytona and Talladega. The IndyCars run well over 200mph around the track; but the Xfinity and Cup Series cars will be running speeds of less than 200mph on the track.
Parker Retzlaff hits the wall during his practice and has to bring it in the garage for some repairs.
Ryan Sieg has made it to the track and is in the car and on the track making laps.
There is a golf course in the infield and there are people on the course playing while the drivers are on the track.
NASCARA stops practice briefly while they examine the track for debris.
Sam Mayer had to have the splitter replaced after hitting something on the track.
Back on the track, the drivers are running groups to work on passing and drafting.
Pit road speed has been reduced by 10mph from 55mph to 45mph. NASCAR allows a five miles per hour grace before assessing any penalties.
Pit road is very narrow with long boxes.
Justin Allgaier is the only driver in the field who has won on the oval at IMS.
Sheldon Creed brings his car to the garage saying that the car feels like it is blowing up.
Chandler Smith tops the board in a single lap run with Brandon Jones leading in multi lap runs.
BJ McLeod is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run in single car qualifying. He posted a time of 55.665 seconds around the 2.5 mile track.
Cars Series regular Carson Kvapil is the first driver to break the 55 second mark with a time of 54.102 seconds.
IndyCar driver Conor Daly has made hundreds of laps around the track at IMS, but this is the first time he has run the track in a stock car and posts a time of 54.305 seconds.
Kyle Sieg got very loose but saved the car to post a time of 55.517 seconds.
His first time ever on the oval of IMS, Shane Gisbergen posted a sub 55 second lap.
After an absence of eight weeks, Aric Almirola returns to the track behind the wheel of the 20 car and becomes the first driver to break the 54 second mark with a time of 53,968 seconds.
Parker Kligerman gets into the wall – slapping it hard enough for smoke to come out of the rear of the car. He was running into the green at the time of the crash. The crew will make repairs to the car and Kligerman will start from the back of the field.
Sheldon Creed’s crew had to change the engine after practice and will have to start the race from the back of the field despite his 54.268 qualifying run.
With a time of 53.705 seconds, Cole Custer puts his double zero on the pole with Riley Herbst starting alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Penzoil 250:
Cole Custer
Riley Herbst
Aric Almirola
Sam Mayer
Anthony Alfredo
Brandon Jones
Carson Kvapil
AJ Allmendinger
Justin Allgaier
Josh Berry
Jeb Burton
Sheldon Creed
Chandler Smith
Austin Hill
Jesse Love
Conor Daly
Joe Graf Jr
Jeremy Clements
Josh Williams
Parker Retzlaff
Sammy Smith
Daniel Dye
Shane van Gisbergen
Blaine Perkins
Leland Honeyman
Garrett Smithley
Ryan Sieg
Kyle Weatherman
Matt DiBenedetto
Brennan Poole
Kyle Sieg
Josh Bilicki
BJ McLeod
Ryan Ellis
Joey Gase
David Starr
Greg van Last
Parker Kligerman
Justin Allgaier is the only driver in the field who has won a race on the 2.5 mile oval.
Stages one and two are 30 laps with stage three lasting 40 laps for a total of 100 laps around the track. The drivers can run around 45 laps on a single load of fuel.
Austin Hill will have to move to the back of the field after the crew had to make some repairs – unapproved adjustments – to the car. Sheldon Creed is also starting from the back of the field after the crew had to make an engine change after qualifying.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with teammate Riley Herbst alongside on the front row. Custe and Herbst are side by side going into turn one but Cole Custer on the inside lane gets out in front for the lead.
The caution flag comes out on lap one for a wreck involving Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, and Josh Berry. Conor Daly, Justin Allgaier, AJ Allmendinger, Jeb Burton, Parker Retzlaff, Leland Honeyman, Jeremy Clements, Chandler Smith, and Jesse Love also have some damage to their cars. Sam Mayer gets loose and spins out after some on track contact, collecting the other drivers.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Riley Herbst alongside on lap eight. Custer and Herbst again go side by side; but this time Riley Herbst edges out for the lead.
With a string of cars behind him, Cole Custer gets a push to get out in front for the lead on lap nine.
The top five are Cole Custer, Aric Almirola, Brandon Jones, Anthony Alfredo, and Riley Herbst.
Lap eleven, Cole Custer has a half second lead on Aric Almirola; Brandon Jones, Riley Herbst, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five. After starting the race from the back of the field, Parker Kligerman has entered the top 20.
Justin Allgaier passes Riley Herbst for fourth.
AJ Allmendinger has some debris on his grille – grass – but says so fa, rthe temps are fine.
Lap 15, Cole Custer has less than a quarter of a second lead on Aric Almirola; Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.,
Riley Herbst passes Brandon Jones for fourth.
Chandler Smith is slowed on the track that brings out the caution flag on lap 17. He is reporting no fuel pressure.
Several drivers come down pit road for service including leader Cole Custer. Aric Almirola wins the race off of pit road.
It was a lucky stop for Brandon Jones, the crew discovered a puncture in one of the tires.
Riley Herbst brings the field down for the green flag restart with AJ Allmendinger alongside on lap 21. Herbst and Allmendinger go side by side before Riley Herbst gets in front after a push from Ryan Sieg.
The top five are Riley Herbst, AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Sieg, DiBenedetto, and Parker Kligerman.
Lap 23, Riley Herbst has the lead with Ryan Sieg over a half second back; AJ Allmendinger, Matt DiBenedetto, and Parker Kligerman round out the top five.
Lap 26, just outside the top five, Brandon Jones has moved the furthest forward after making a pit stop.
Parker Kligerman passes Matt DiBenedetto for fourth.
Lap 27, Riley Herbst has pulled out to a near two second lead on Ryan Sieg. AJ Allmendinger passes Ryan Sieg for second; Parker Kligerman and Brandon Jones round out the top five.
With a lead of over two seconds, Riley Herbst wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Riley Herbst
AJ Allmendinger
Ryan Sieg
Brandon Jones
Justin Allgaier
Cole Custer
Parker Kligerman
Aric Almirola
Carson Kvapil
Matt DiBenedetto
Drivers who stayed on the track during the caution come down pit road for service.
Brandon Jones is the new leader.
While the Xfinity Series drivers are racing, Cup Series driver William Byron is out jogging the course.
Parker Kligerman was charged with an uncontrolled tire during his pit stop. Parker Retzlaff and Josh Williams also received penalties.
Brandon Jones brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Justin Allgaier alongside on lap 35. On the inside lane, Brandon Jones takes the lead.
Lap 36, Brandon Jones has the lead with Justin Allgaier less than a quarter of a second back; Cole Custer; Aric Almirola, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Saying that every lap on an oval is a chance to learn, Shane van Gisbergen has entered the top 15 in 13th place.
Chandler Smith has returned to the track 16 laps down.
Lap 40, Brandon Jones has a third of a second on Justin Allgaier; Cole Custer, Aric Almirola, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Lap 42, Justin Allgaier has caught teammate Brandon Jones and passes for the lead with Cole Custer on his bumper.
Cole Custer passes Justin Allgaier for the lead with Brandon Jones in second and Allgaier in third.
Aric Almirola passes Justin Allgaier for third.
Riley Herbst passes Carson Kvapil for fifth.
Shane van Gisbergen is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.
Lap 46, Justin Allgaier passes Brandon Jones for third.
Lap 47, the top five are Cole Custer, Aric Almirola, Justin Allgaier, Riley Herbst,, and Brandon Jones. Cole Custer has a lead of over a second on Almirola.
Lap 48, Riley Herbst passes Justin Allgaier for third.
Lap 50, Cole Custer has a near two second lead on Aric Almirola; Riley Herbst, Justin Allgaier, and Brand on Jones round out the top five.
With a break coming for the Olympics; plus a week off before returning to the track, Cole Custer may be returning to the track as a new father. He and his wife are expecting their first child in the next few weeks.
Lap 55, Brandon Jones is talking Justin Allgaier looking to pass for fourth.
The caution flag comes out on lap 56 for Brennan Poole’s smoking car. Reports are he has a steering pump issue.
Drivers can make it to the end of the race if they come down pit road for service once it opens – if NASCAR decides to open pit road before the end of the stage.
NASCAR opens pit road with three laps before the end of the stage. Drivers come down pit road for service with Riley Herbst winning the race off of pit road; followed by Cole Custer.
Ryan Sieg, Leland Honeyman, and Garrett Smithley stayed out on the track.
Garrett Smithley falls back in the field.
Sammy Smith had a slow stop when the crew had to reapply the tape on the car.
Ryan Sieg brings the field down for the one lap shootout to the end of the stage with Leland Honeyman alongside. Drivers spread out across the track with Ryan Sieg holding on to the lead as drivers get bottled up behind him.
Ryan Sieg wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ryan Sieg
Aric Almirola
Riley Herbst
AJ Allmendinger
Justin Allgaier
Cole Custer
Shane van Gisbergen
Austin Hill
Leland Honeyman
Sheldon Creed
Ryan Sieg and Leland Honeyman come down pit road for service and are mired at the back of the field.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with AJ Allmendinger alongside on lap 66. Allmendinger and Almirola are side by side until Riley Herbst comes up to make it a three way battle and takes the lead.
Aric Almirola brings out the caution flag on lap 67 when his spins out in a single car incident. There may have been some light contact from Austin Hill before the spin.
The top five are Riley Herbst, Cole Custer, AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, and Shan van Gisbergen.
Riley Herbst brings the field down for the green flag restart with AJ Allmendinger alongside on lap 71. Drivers spread out across the track. Herbst and Allmendinger swap the lead back and forth until Herbst gets loose and has to save the car, giving Allmendinger the lead.
The top five are AJ Allmendinger, Cole Custer, Riley Herbst, Justin Allgaier, and Shane van Gisbergen.
With 26 laps to go, the top four drivers are separated by less than a second.
AJ Allmendinger has just a tenth of a second lead on Cole Custer; Riley Herbst, Justin Allgaier, and Shane van Gisbergen round out the top five.
Lap 75, Cole Custer passes AJ Allmendinger for the lead.
Riley Herbst takes second as Cole Custer pulls away; Justin Allgaier, AJ Allmendinger, and Shane van Gisbergen round out the top five.
Lap 77, AJ Allmendinger passes Justin Allgaier for third.
Lap 78, leader Cole Custer and Riley Herbst are separated by tenths of a second with the remainder of the field over two seconds back.
Twenty to go! Riley Herbest and Cole Custer battle for the lead with Herbst getting back out in front; AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, and Shane van Gisbergen round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 84 for a wreck involving Josh Williams, Anthony Alfredo, and Parker Retzlaff. Anthony Alfredo is in a battle with Daniel Dye and gets into the wall. Slowd on the track, Parker Retzlaff gets into the rear of Alfredo and Josh Williams runs into Retzlaff. After initial contact with the wall, Anthony Alfredo had no control of the car. After hitting the outside wall, Alfredo also hit the inside wall.
Pit road is open and several of the drivers come down pit road with the leaders staying out on the track. Conor Daly wins the race off of pit road.
Riley Herbst brings the field down for the green flag restart with Cole Custer alongside on lap 89. AJ Allmendinger gives leader Riley Herbst a push but Cole Custer comes up on the outside to take the lead. Allmendinger and Herbst battle for second as drivers get three and four wide.
Cole Custer leads the race s drivers battle for positon behind him.
Then to go, Cole Custer has a one second lead on Aric Almirola; Riley Herbst, AJ Allmendinger, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Shane van Gisbergen passes Jesse Love for fifith.
Aric Almirola gets loose but saves the car and holds on to third.
Eight to go, Riley Herbst passes Aric Almirola for third.
Greg van Last is slowed on the track and finds a spot open to get behind the wall and the track stays green.
Seven to go, the top five are Cole Custer, Riley Herbst, Aric Almirola, AJ Allmendinger, and Shane van Gisbergen.
All of the drivers involved in the last wreck have been checked and released from the infield care center.
Six to go, Cole Custer has a lead of nearly a second and a half on Riley Herbst.
Four to go, Riley Herbst has closed the gap on leader Cole Custer to under a second.
Shane van Gisbergen passes AJ Allmendinger for fourth.
Three to go, the gap between leader Cole Custer and Riley Herbst is down to just over half a second.
Two to go and the gap between Custer and Herbst is under half a second.
Riley Herbst has caught leader Cole Custer. Herbst, Custer, and Aric Almirola are in a three way battle for the lead with Almirola getting out in front as the white flag waves.
Cole Custer has dropped back but Aric Almirola and Riley Herbst are in a battle for the lead.
Riley Herbst gets out in front and wins the race! Herbst has secured a spot in the playoffs.
The unofficial results of the Penzoil 250:
Riley Herbst
Cole Custer
Aric Almirola
Shane van Gisbergen
Sheldon Creed
Austin Hill
Daniel Dye
AJ Allmendinger
Justin Allgaier
Carson Kvapil
Ryan Sieg
Parker Kligerman
Jesse Love
Conor Daly
Brandon Jones
Matt DiBenedetto
Joe Graf Jr
Sammy Smith
Jeb Burton
Leland Honeyman
Brennan Poole
Kyle Sieg
Ryan Ellis
Joey Gase
Kyle Weatherman
David Starr
Josh Bilicki
BJ McLeod
Blaine Perkins
Jeremy Clements
Garrett Smithley
Greg van Last
Chandler Smith
Anthony Alfredo
Parker Retzlaff
Josh Willaims
Sam Mayer
Josh Berry