The Xfinity Series goes into action this weekend to kick off a doubleheader at Michigan International Speedway for the Cabo Wabo 250.

There are 39 cars at the track for 38 starting spots including Cup Series driver Noah Gragson and John Hunter Nemechek.  Jeffrey Earnhardt and Matt DiBenedetto are also at MIS looking to make the race.  Lawless Alan makes his Xfinity Series debut in the 15 car this weekend.

With lower horsepower, the drivers are running 18 to 20 laps wide open before having to lift.  The drivers are expected to take advantage of the draft on the two mile track this weekend.

The drivers have been divided into two groups for a 20 minute practice session each.

Sam Mayer ran the fastest laps in Group A with speeds of nearly 172mph.

Chandler Smith got loose on the track amid traffic but saved the car and avoided a wreck.

With speeds topping 173mph, John Hunter Nemechek leads the Group B practice.

There are six races remaining in the regular season for the Xfinity Series.  Eight drivers have secured a spot in the playoffs with race wins.

After the two 20 minute practice sessions, the drivers take to the track for single car qualifying.  Morgen Baird is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 43.288 seconds.

Noah Gragson is just the second car out and breaks the 43 second mark with 42.451 seconds.

The 19 year old Taylor Gray just missed hitting the 41 second mark with a  time of 41.067 seconds to put the number 19 car in first place after 18 cars have been on the track.

Cole Custer and his wife had their first baby – boy Callahan – during the break.

Sheldon Creed breaks the 42 second mark at 41.947 seconds.

With a time of 41.947 seconds, Sheldon Creed puts his number 18 car on the pole with Riley Herbst starting alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Caba Wabo 250:
Sheldon Creed
Riley Herbst
Taylor Gray
Cole Custer
Chandler Smith
Brandon Jones
Ryan Sieg
Carson Kvapil
Jesse Love
John Hunter Nemechek
Sam Mayer
Noah Gragson
AJ Allmendinger
Sammy Smith
Lawless Alan
Justin Allgaier
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Jeb Burton
Anthony Alfredo
Austin Hill
Jeremy Clements
Parker Kligerman
Shane van Gisbergen
Daniel Dye
Caesar Bacarella
Parker Retzlaff
Kyle Sieg
Kyle Weatherman
Josh Williams
Blaine Perkins
Matt DiBenedetto
Patrick Emerling
Leland Honeyman
Josh Bilicki
Logan Bearden
Brennan Poole
Ryan Ellis
Joey Gase

Morgen Baird failed to qualify for the race.

As the drivers prepare for the race to begin, they are also in a delay after the showers that cancelled Cup Series qualifying is also affecting the Xfinity Series start.

The track is drying nicely and crews hope to hit the track soon.

Stages one and two are 30 laps each with stage three is 65 laps for a total of 125 laps around the two mile track.

Sheldon Creed brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with a possibility of more rain and a shortened race.  Riley Herbst starts alongside Creed.  The drivers get spread out three wide.  A three wide battle for the lead put Taylor Gray in front briefly before Sheldon Creed gets out in front.

Lap two, the top five are Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, Cole Custer, Brandon Jones, and Ryan Seig.

Lap four, Sheldon Creed has the lead with Riley Herbst on his bumper; Cole Custer, Brandon Jones, and Ryan Sieg round out the top five.

The drivers are drafting but there is no bump drafting…so far.

Lap eight, drivers in the field are dropping down looking to move up their position; they either move back into the same spot of fall back in the field.

Lap nine, Sheldon Creed holds a one tenth of a second lead on Riley Herbst; Cole Custer, Brandon Jones, and Ryan Sieg continue to round out the top five.

The first caution flag of the race comes out on lap 15 when Taylor Gray gets down on the apron and spins out in a single car incident.

Any driver who makes a pit stop now can make it to the end of stage two.

Many of the drivers come down pit road for service.

After staying out on the track, Sheldon Creed brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 19 and holds on to the lead.

Sammy Smith drops down on the track with a possible tire issue.  He works his way to pit road for service.

Lap 20, the top five are Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, Brandon Jones, Chandler Smith, and Justin Allgaier.

Lap 21 Leland Honeyman slides along the wall but the track stays green.

Lap 24, the top four drivers – Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, Brandon Jones, and Chandler Smith – have broken away from the rest of the field.

Leader Sheldon Creed brings out the caution flag and spins out after Riley Herbst gets the air off of his rear bumper on lap 24.

Some of the drivers back in the field come down pit road for fresh tires.

Riley Herbst brings the field down for the green flag restart with just three laps remaining in stage one.  Justin Allgaier moves up on the inside to take the lad as the drivers spread out three and four wide across the track.

The top five are Justin Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, Riley Herbst, Chandler Smith, and Brandon Jones.

Ryan Sieg passes Justin Allgaier for the lead and moves ahead after a push from Chandler Smith.

Ryan Sieg wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Ryan Sieg
Brandon Jones
Chandler Smith
Justin Allgaier
Lawless Alan
Austin Hill
Riley Herbst
Kyle Sieg
AJ Allmendinger
Parker Kligerman

Drivers come down pit road for rain and the race has been red flagged.  NASCAR has announced the race will end for darkness at 8:20pm local time.

After a delay of only about 10 minutes, the sprinkles have stopped and the jet driers are back behind the wall.  The red flag has been pulled and the yellow flag is out.  The drivers are moving again.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service as the sun begins to peak out.  Austin Hill is the only driver in the top five who has made a pit stop – Ryan Sieg, Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, and Riley Herbst have yet to make a pit stop.

Ryan Sieg brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 37 with Justin Allgaier alongside.  Sieg and Allgaier battle for the lead as the drivers spread out across the track.

The fourth caution flag of the race comes out on lap 37 when Austin Hill comes across the track from the outside lane and makes contact with Carson Kvapil before spinning out and making a run through the grass.

Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 42 with AJ Allmendinger alongside.  Allgaier and Allmendinger battle for the lead with Allgaier getting out in front.

The top five are Justin Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, AJ Allmendinger, Carson Kvapil, and Jesse Love.

Lap 45, Justin Allgaier leads the race with Ryan Sieg in second; Carson Kvapil, Jesse Love, and John Hunter Nemechek round out the top five.

Lap 49, Karson Kvapil and John Hunter Nemechek pass Ryan Sieg.

The caution flag comes out when Riley Herbst gets into the wall hard after trying to move in front of Ryan Sieg.  Brandon Jones makes contact with Ryan Sieg pushing Sieg forward; Brandon Jones spins out to make contact with teammate Sam Mayer who was running in the grass.  From the radio, Herbst noted that he moved to the right after his spotter called him clear.

Ryan Sieg also has some damage to his car as a result of contact with Riley Herbst.

Cole Custer has some damage to his car.

Drivers come down pit road for service including leader Justin Allgaier.  John Hunter Nemechek is the new leader.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with AJ Allmendinger alongside on lap 55.  Allmendinger and Nemechek battle for the lead.

Drivers spread out three and four across the track.

John Hunter Nemechek leads the race with Jesse Love in second; Parker Kligerman, Taylor Gray, and Sammy Smith round out the top five.

Lap 58, John Hunter Nemechek has the lead with Jesse Love in second; Parker Kligerman, Taylor Gray, and Sammy Smith round out the top five.

John Hunter Nemechek wins stage two.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
John Hunter Nemechek
Jesse Love
AJ Allmendinger
Taylor Gray
Sammy Smith
Chandler Smith
Justin Allgaier
Sheldon Creed
Jeb Burton
Anthony Alfredo

The field comes down pit road for service with John Hunter Nemechek winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.

After staying out on the track, Carson Kvapil brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with John Hunter Nemechek alongside on lap 65.  Nemechek gets a push from Justin Allgaier to take the lead.

The top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Chandler smith, Carson Kvapil, and Sammy Smith.

The caution flag comes out on lap 66 after Daniel Dye gets into the wall.  Lawless Alan is leaking fluid and has flames coming from his car.  Jeb Burton was also involved in.  Lawless Alan got loose and moved up the track making contact with Jeb Burton and Lawless Alan.

Some of the drivers come down pit road to top off the fuel tank to ensure making it to the end of the race.

Cole Custer has been having some overheating issues.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 72.  Sammy Smith and John Hunter Nemechek battle for the lead as drivers get three wide across the track.

The top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith, Noah Gragson, and Chandler Smith.

NASCAR has charged Shane van Gisbergen with a restart violation for pulling out of line.  He will have to serve a passthrough penalty.

Cole Custer had to make an unscheduled trip down pit road for a tire issue.

Brennan Poole is off the track.  Daniel Dye, Lawless Alan, Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst are all out of the race.

Lap 79, John Hunter Nemechek has a tenth of a second lead on Carson Kvapil; Sammy Smith, Noah Gragson, and Chandler Smith round out the top five.

Lap 85 – 40 laps to go – John Hunter Nemechek leads the race with Carson Kvapil in second; Sammy Smith, Noah Gragson, and Chandler Smith round out the top five.

Carson Kvaipil passes John Hunter Nemechek for the lead.

Reports are that the top eight drivers cannot make it to the end of the race on the fuel load they have.  Justin Allgaier is the first driver who can make it to the end.  Allgaier’s crew chief has told him to drive hard and pass the cars.

Lap 90, currently Justin Allgaier is mired back in eighth place.

Lap 91, the top five are Carson Kvapil, John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, and Sheldon Creed.

Lap 93, Justin Allgaier is now just outside the top five in sixth place.

Sheldon Creed passes Sammy Smith for fourth.

Lap 95, Justin Allgaier has entered the top five.

Lap 97, Sheldon Creed passes Chandler Smith for third.

Lap 98, the top five are Carson Kvapil, John Hunter Nemechek, Sheldon Creed, Chandler Smith, and Justin Allgaier.

Lap 100, Carson Jvapil has a lead of over two and a half seconds on John Hunter Nemechek; Sheldon Creed, Chandler Smith, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.

Justin Allgier passes Sammy Smith for fourth.

With 22 laps remaining in the race, Carson Kvapil’s lead is now under two seconds. 

Justin Allgaier and Sheldon Creed battle for third.

Lap 105, Joey Gase is slowed on the track but makes it to pit road and the track stays green.

Carson Kvapil has a near two second lead on John Hunter Nemechek.

Lap 108, Justin Allgaier passes Sheldon Creed for third

Lap 109, Justin Allgaier passes John Hunter Nemechek for seconds.  Carson Kvapil comes down pit road for fuel and gives the lead over to Justin Allgaier.

Jesse Loves comes down pit road for service.

Lap 111, leader Justin Allgaier has pulled out to a half second lead on John Hunter Nemechek.

With 13 laps to go, the skies over the track have gotten very dark.

Justin Allgaier has a lead of over half a second on Sheldon Creed; John Hunter Nemechek, Sammy Smith, and Noah Gragson round out the top five.

Ten to go, Justin Allgaier has a lead of less than half a second on Sheldon Creed; Sammy Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, and Noah Gragson round out the top five.

Kyle Weather blew a tire and hit the wall hard to bring out the caution flag.  He is out of the car leaning against the wall.  There were flames coming out of the car when he hit the wall.

While the track workers were cleaning up Kyle Weatherman’s wreck, it begins to sprinkle.  A few of the drivers come down pit road for service but the leaders stay out.

Five to go, and the rain comes down.

The race goes into overtime.

Lap 123, NASCAR brings the field down pit road and displays the red flag for the second time in the race.  NASCAR sends out the pace car and others to examine the track condition.

Second place driver Sheldon Creed has finished in second place 10 times – tying with Daniel Hemric and Dale Jarrett – without a win.

Jet dryers are one the track working to get the track dry in turns three and four.  The rains have stopped and a rainbow appears.

After a near 24 minute red flag condition, the cars are fired back up and moving again under the yellow flag.

Lap 127, Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag restart with teammate Sammy Smith alongside.  Allgaier and Smith are side by side with Sammy Smith getting in front briefly before Justin Allgaier passes on the outside to take the lead and pulls away.

Justin Allgaier takes the white flag.

The caution flag comes out for a big wreck in turn four.  Justin Allgaier wins the race.

Kyle Sieg ended up in the grass after flipping over on the roof sliding down the track.  Caesar Bacarella makes contact with Carson Kvapil and send Kvapil spinning. Chandler Smith and Kyle Sieg make contact; sending Sieg on his roof.

The win is number 25 for Justin Allgaier for his first Michigan win.  Allgaier is now in 10th place on the winner’s all time list.  He exits the car through the roof hatch.

And for the eleventh time, Sheldon Creed finishes the race in second.  He now holds the record by himself.

The unofficial results of the Cabo Wabo 250:
Justin Allgaier
Sheldon Creed
John Hunter Nemechek
Anthony Alfredo
Sammy Smith
Noah Gragson
Matt DiBenedetto
Taylor Gray
Caesar Bacarella
AJ Allmendinger
Parker Kligerman
Leland Honeyman
Ryan Sieg
Ryan Ellis
Jeremy Clements
Jeb Burton
Shane van Gisbergen
Austin Hill
Josh Williams
Parker Retzlaff
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Patrick Emerling
Blaine Perkins
Josh Bilicki
Logan Bearden
Carson Kvapil
Chandler smith
Kyle Sieg
Jesse Love
Cole Custer
Joey Gase
Kyle Weatherman
Brennan Poole
Daniel Dye
Lawless Alan
Brandon Jones
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst