The Xfinity Series is set to run the National Debt Relief 250 on Saturday afternoon. By the end of the race the four drivers that will compete for the championship will be revealed. Austin Hill and AJ Allmendinger have already secured their spots in the championship four.
The drivers have been divided into two groups for practice around the short half mile track. Group two has all eight of the playoff drivers.
Jesse Love sits at the top of the leaderboard after both practice sessions.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Preston Pardus who posted a time of 20.690 seconds. The drivers have two chances to post their best lap.
Ryan Sieg will not make a qualifying run do to a brake issue. Thirty-eight teams brought cars to Martinsville for 38 starting spots. Sieg will make the race and start at the back of the field.
Parker Kligerman also has some brake issues but will make a qualifying run before the crew makes any repairs.
Parker Retzlaff is the first driver to break the 20 second mark with a time of 19.901 seconds. One of nine drivers to break the 20 second mark, Parker Retzlaff puts his number 31 car on the pole with Anthony Alfredo starting alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the National Debt Relief 250:
Parker Retzlaff
Anthony Alfredo
Chandler Smith
Jesse Love
Justin Allgaier
Austin Hill
Sammy Smith
Sheldon Creed
Aric Almirola
Cole Custer
AJ Allmendinger
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst
Brandon Jones
William Sawalich
Matt DiBenedetto
Bubba Pollard
Parker Kligerman
Brennan Poole
Shane van Gisbergen
Jeb Burton
Myatt Snider
Josh Williams
Blaine Perkins
Leland Honeyman
Ryan Ellis
Kyle Sieg
Dawson Cram
Jeremy Clements
Garrett Smithley
Dylan Lupton
Preston Pardus
Carson Ware
Logan Bearden
Patrick Emerling
Mason Maggio
Stevn van Alst
Ryan Sieg
Stages one and two are 60 laps each with stage three lasting 130 laps for a total of 250 laps around the half mile track.
William Sawalich and Parker Kligerman will start the race from the back of the field after crews made some unapproved adjustments to the cars.
Parker Retzlaff brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Anthony Alfredo alongside. Retzlaff edges out for the lead as drivers get three wide through the field.
Lap three, Parker Retzlaff leads the race by half a second over Chandler Smith; Anthony Alfredo, Justin Allgaier, and Jesse Love round out the top five. Anthony Alfredo and Justin Allgaier battle for third.
Lap six, Parker Retzlaff holds on to the lead with Chandler Smith in second; Justin Allgaier, Anthony Alfredo, and Jesse Love round out the top five. Parker Kligerman has moved up to 28th since the race start.
Lap eleven, since starting at the back of the field Parker Kligerman is in 26th, Ryan Sieg is in 27th, and William Sawalich is up to 31st.
Lap 13, the first caution flag of the race comes out when AJ Allmendinger gets into the wall with a flat tire after some contact on the track.
Parker Retzlaff brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 19 with Chandler Smith alongside. Smith gets out in front for the lead. Drivers get three wide across the track.
Lap 20, the top five are Chandler smith, Parker Retzlaff, Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola, and Jesse Love.
Carson Ware and AJ Allmendinger are off the track. Preston Pardus is the only car on the track not on the lead lap.Lap 25, Chandler Smith has a lead of over half a second on Parker Retzlaff; Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Chandler Smith was below the cut line when the race began but when the race began but as long as he is leading the race, he is above the cut line and Cole Custer is below the cut line.
Lap 32, Chandler Smith has a one second lead on Parker Retzlaff; Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
AJ Allmendinger is out of the race early after his on track contact with Cole Custer.
The caution flag comes out on lap 37 after contact between Ryan Sieg and William Sawalich that sent Sawalich spinning.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Chandler Smith winning the race off of pit road.
Austin Hill had a slow stoop after he had to back up to get out of his pit box.
After staying out on the track, Parker Retzlaff brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 44 with Cole Custer alongside. Cole Custer gets out in front for the lead. Drivers are three wide across the track.
The top five are Cole custer, Parker Retzlaff, Shane van Gisbergen, Sam Mayer, and Josh Williams.
The caution flag comes out on lap 47 when Leland Honeyman spins out after some on track contact with Blaine Perkins. The caution flag erased a Cole Custer one second lead.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with just seven laps remaining in stage one. Custer jumps out for the lead. Parker Retzlaff gets into the wall with a flat tire after a push from Sam Mayer who was being pushed by Josh Williams.
Sam Mayer and Josh Williams make contact on the track during the caution.
Carson Ware is out of the race.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag one lap shootout to end stage one. Cole Custer and Aric Almirola battle for the lead and a photo finish to end stage one.
Cole Custer wins stage one by a thousandth of a second.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Aric Almirola
Cole Custer
Justin Allgaier
Chandler Smith
Jesse Love
Riley Herbst
Josh Williams
Sammy Smith
Sheldon Creed
Jeb Burton
NASCAR has determined that Aric Almirola edged out to win his fifth stage of the season.
Drivers come down pit road for service.
Parker Retzlaff is out of the race. He said that he missed the restart that began the issue on the track.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 71 with Chandler Smith alongside. Almirola gets out in front for the lead.
The top five are Aric Almirola, Chandler Smith, Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love and Riley Herbst.
Leland Honeyman is out of the race.
Lap 78, Aric Almirola leads the race with Chandler Smith on his bumper; Justin Allgaier, Riley Herbst, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
All of the drivers on the track are on the lead lap.
Lap 80, Chandler Smith battles with Aric Almirola for the lead with Smith getting out in front.
Lap 83, Aric Almirola moves up to battle Chandler Smith for the lead but Smith holds on to the spot. Riley Herbst and Jesse Love are in a battle for fifth. Jesse Love gets up the track and Riley Herbst takes fifth.
Lap 89, Chandler Smith has just a tenth of a second lead on Aric Almirola; Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Lap 90, the battle for the lead between Aric Almirola and Chandler Smith continues.
Lap 93, Aric Almirla edges out Chandler smith to retake the lead.
Lap 98, the top five are Aric Almirola, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, and Riley Herbst.
Lap 100, Aric Almirola has a lead of nearly a second on Chandler Smith.
Lap 101, Sammy Smith passes Chandler Smith for second.
There are 32 cars on the lead lap.
The sixth caution flag comes out on lap 103 when Mason Maggio gets turned around.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Aric Almirola winning the race off of pit road. Justin Allgaier reported that his car is, “loose, loose, loose in the corners”.
Ryan Sieg brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 10 laps remaining in stage two. The top five are Ryan Sieg, Brennan Poole, Aric Almirola, Myatt Snider, and Sammy Smith.
Drivers at the front of the field are on older tires but are holding their own against the drivers with fresher tires.
Five laps remain in stage two, the drivers with fresher tires are making their move with Ryan Sieg leading the race.
With two laps remaining in stage two, Aric Almirola passes Ryan Sieg for the lead.
Aric Almirola wins stage two for the stage sweep.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Aric Almirola
Ryan Sieg
Sheldon Creed
Sammy Smith
Justin Allgaier
Chandler Smith
Cole Custer
Riley Herbst
William Sawalich
Brennan Poole
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 131 with Sheldon Creed alongside. Almirola gets out in front for the lead. Driving the 20 car, Aric Almirola won the spring race at Martinsville and is looking for the Martinsville sweep.
The top five are Aric Almirola, Sheldon Creed, Ryan Sieg, Justin Allgaier, and Cole Custer.
Lap 134, William Sawalich brings out the caution flag when he gets into the wall.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 141 with Sheldon Creed alongside. Almirola and Creed battle for the lead with Creed getting out in front from the outside lane.
The top five are Sheldon Creed, Aric Almirola, Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, and Chandler Smith.
Lap 146 Cole Custer passes Justin Allgaier for third.
Lap 149, Sheldon Creed and Aric Almirola battle for the lead. Lap 150, so far, Creed is holding Almirola off.
Chandler Smith passes Justin Allgaier for fourth.
Bubba Pollard is having some mechanical issues but makes his way to pit road and the track stays green.
Lap 152, the top five are Sheldon Creed, Aric Almirola, Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, and Justin Allgaier.
Aric Almirola passes Sheldon Creed for the lead.
Lap 156, Sheldon Creed and Cole Custer battle for second.
Sheldon Creed holds the record for the most second place finishes without a win with 13.
Lap 166, Logan Bearden comes down pit road with a flaming tire.
Lap 168, Aric Almirola has a lead of nearly two seconds on Sheldon Creed; Cole Custer, Chandler Smith ,and Justin Allgaier round out the top five with 29 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 172, Aric Almirola has a two second lead on Sheldon Creed.
Lap 174, Justin Allgaier and Riley Herbst battle for fifth.
The caution flag comes out on lap 175 when Preston Pardus spins out and backs into the wall.
Late in the afternoon, the track is changing; the drivers come down pit road for fresh tires and a packed fuel cell. Aric Almirola wins the race off of pit road.
Sheldon Creed was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag restart with Cole Custer alongside with 68 laps remaining in the race. Almirola gets out in front for the lead with Cole Custer in second and Justin Allgaier in third.
The tenth caution flag comes out when Dawson Cram spins out.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag restart as the sun drops below the stands with Cole Custer alongside on lap 140. Almirola edges out for the lead.
Justin Allgaier and Riley Herbst battle for third.
Drivers spread out three wide across the track.
The top five are Aric Almirola, Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, Chandler Smith, and Jeb Burton.
The eleventh caution flag of the race comes out for a crash involving Josh Williams, Blaine Perkins, and Sheldon Creed in a three wide battle. Williams spins out.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag restart with 49 laps remaining in the race. Aric Almirola has never lost a race when he has led at least 100 laps. He has currently led 101 laps.
Aric Almirola gets out in front for the lead with 49 laps to go with Cole Custer in second; Justin Allgaier, Chandler smith, and Jeb Burton round out the top five.
Chandler smith passes Justin Allgaier for third.
With 43 laps to go, Chandler Smith battles with Cole Custer for second with Aric Almirola one second ahead in the lead.
Forty to go, Aric Almirola has a lead of over a second with Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, and Justin Allgaier nose to tail.
Just 37 laps to go, Aric Almirola has pulled out to a second and a half lead on Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Justin Allgaier, and Jeb Burton round out the top five.
With 31 to go, Aric Almirola has a two second lead. Chandler Smith passes Cole Custer for second.
Brandon Jones spins out to bring out the 12th caution flag of the race. Sheldon Creed makes contact with Jones and sends him around into the wall.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chandler Smith alongside. There are just 24 laps remaining in the race. Almirola gets out in front. Sam Mayer’s car is smoking. Cole Custer shoves Chandler Smith; both drivers fall back.
Ryan Sieg spins out to bring out the caution flag.
Sam Mayer is on pit road; the crew pushes the car to the garage and is out of the race. The DNF also puts Mayer out of the competition for the championship four.
With all the shoving, Justin Allgaier takes second.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag restart once again; but this time Sammy Smioth is on the outside. There are 16 laps remaining in the race. Almirola gets out in front with Sammy Smith in second and Justin Allgaier in third; Riley Herbst and Chandler Smith round out the top five.
Riley Herbst, Chandler smith, and Justi Allgaier battle for third. Sammy Smith is closing the gap on leader Aric Almirola.
Just 13 laps to go, Aric Almirola leads the race by nearly half a second as drivers battle three wide on the track. Brandon Jones brings his car down pit road.
Cole Custer and Justin Allgaier battle for fourth.
Nine to go, Aric Almirola has a near half second lead on Sammy Smith.
Seven to go, Aric Almirola pulls away on the straightaways but Sammy Smith closes the gaps on the corners.
Brandon Jones is out of the race.
Three to go, Aric Almirola holds on to the lead with Sammy Smith in second.
Aric Almirola takes the white flag.
Aric Almirola sweeps Martinsville after a dominating win.
Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer fill out the championship four next week in Phoenix to determine the champion for 2024. Custer is the reigning champion and is looking to defend his title.
Cole Custer and Chandler Smith have an aggressive confrontation after the race.
The unofficial results of the National Debt Relief 250:
Aric Almirola
Sammy Smith
Chandler Smith
Cole Custer
Justin Allgaier
Sheldon Creed
Anthony Alfredo
Parker Kligerman
Jeb Burton
Myatt Snider
Riley Herbst
Jesse Love
Brennan Poole
Austin Hill
Ryan Sieg
Matt DiBenedetto
Josh Williams
Ryan Ellis
Blaine Perkins
Dylan Lupton
Kyle Sieg
Mason Maggio
Patrick Emerling
Preston Pardus
Dawson Cram
Greg van Alst
Jeremy Clements
Shane van Gisbergen
Brandon Jones
Sam Mayer
Bubba Pollard
Garrett Smithley
William Sawalich
Logan Bearden
Leland Honeyman
Parker Retzlaff
Carson Ware
AJ Allmendinger