The Xfinity Series drivers takes to the track on Friday afternoon for practice as they prepare for some Saturday night racing at Phoenix Raceway to end the season.
Brandon Jones, Aric Almirola, and Justin Allgaier all have damage to their cars after running through some fluid on the track and getting into the wall. Almirola made contact with Jones while spinning out. Parker Kligerman and Brandon Jones will also be moving to backup cars.
Allgaier is visibly upset after the crash.
Brennan Poole is the driver who “blew up” and spewed the fluid on the track.
Justin Allgaier and Aric Almirola are moving to backup cars after the crash damage is too severe for repair. Normally a team is limited on the number of cars they can bring to the track as a designated backup car. But this weekend NASCAR has allowed the four playoff teams to bring a fully prepared backup car to Phoenix.
Due to the track cleanup after the crash, NASCAR has extended practice.
Aric Almirola is already on the track in his backup car.
Still in the garage, JR Motorsports hopes to get Justin Allgaier and the number seven on the track to make some laps before the end of practice.
Xfinity Series Director Wayne Auton has spent the past 38 years as a part of NASCAR and after the race on Saturday night, Auton is retiring.
With 18 minutes remaining in practice, Justin Allgaier is in his car and getting secured and ready for practice.
While the playoff drivers are motivated by a championship, Sheldon Creed has a bit of a different incentive – he has taxes and a big truck repair to pay for.
The first driver to make a qualifying run is Daniel Dye who posted a time of 27.345 seconds around the one mile track.
Connor Zilisch got “a bit loose” during his qualifying run but saved the car and still posted a time of 27.530.
Jeremy Clements continues his consecutive start streak and will make start number 392 when the green flag flies later today.
William Sawalich is the 15th driver to make a qualifying run and is the first driver to break the 27 second mark with a time of 26.832 seconds.
Brandon Jones was one of the drivers who had to move to a backup car. Unlike teammate Justin Allgaier who had a fully prepared backup, Jones had to use the JR Motorsports team backup which was not ready to race. JRM had “all hands on deck”; even driver Justin Allgaier was helping out with the decals. Not getting the chance to practice in the car, Jones spent his qualifying lap “feeling out the car” and posted a time of 27.994 seconds.
With a time of 26.832 seconds, 18 year old rookie driver William Sawalich put his number 19 car on the pole with Sheldon Creed starting alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Xfinity Series Championship race:
William Sawalich
Sheldon Creed
Riley Herbst
Chandler Smith
Austin Hill
Jesse Love
Cole Custer
Sam Mayer
AJ Allmendinger
Parker Retzlaff
Matt DiBenedetto
Anthony Alfredo
Daniel Dye
Stefan Parsons
Sammy Smith
Jeb Burton
Shane van Gisbergen
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Josh Williams
Ryan Ellis
Connor Zilisch
Jeremy Clements
Ryan Sieg
Dylan Lupton
Blaine Perkins
Leland Honeyman
Dawson Cram
Brennan Poole
Kyle Sieg
Patrick Emerling
Parker Kligerman
Josh Bilicki
Brandon Jones
Joey Gase
Greg van Alst
Garrett Smithley
Justin Allgaier
Aric Almirola
After moving to a backup car Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola, Brandon Jones, and Parker Kligerman will all have to start the race from the back of the field. Sammy Smith will start the race from the back of the field after an engine change and AJ Allmendinger moves to the back of the field after the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the car after a brake issue.
Stages one and two are 45 laps each with stage three lasting 110 laps for a total of 200 laps around the one mile track.
William Sawalich brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Sheldon Creed alongside. Drivers immediately go three, four, and five wide with Sheldon Creed taking the lead.
Lap two, Sheldon Creed leads the race with William Sawalich in second; Riley Herbst, Chandler smith, and Austin Hill round out the top five. Justin Allgaier is up to 30th place.
Lap four, the four championship drivers are scattered through the field – Austin Hill is in fifth, Cole Custer is in eighth, AJ Allmendinger has entered the top 20, and Justin Allgaier is in 25th.
Lap six, Sheldon Creed and Riley Herbst battle for the lead; Chandler Smith, William Sawalich, and Austin Hill round out the top five.
Lap eight, after starting from the back of the field, players drivers AJ Allmendinger is in 16th and Justin Allgaier is in 19th.
Lap 10, Riley Herbst leads the race with Sheldon Creed a third of a second back; Chandler Smioth, William Sawalich, and Austin Hill round out the top five.
Lap 12, Justin Allgaier’s car that was wrecked during practice on Friday was a brand new car they had spent two months building.
Lap 14, Riley Herbst has pulled out to a second and a half lead on Chandler Smith; Sheldon Creed, William Sawalich, and Austin Hill round out the top five. Justin Allgaier has entered the top 15.
Lap 19, Austin Hill passes William Sawalich for fourth with Riley Herbst leading the race.
Lap 20, Riley Herbst has pulled out to a two second lead on Chandler Smith; Sheldon Creed, Austin Hill, and William Sawalich round out the top five. Justin Allgaier is up to eleventh, AJ Allmendinger is in 17th, and Cole Custer is in eighth.
Lap 25, Riley Herbst continues to increase his lead and is over two seconds out in front. He has begun lapping slower traffic with 36 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 26, Justin Allgaier has just entered the top 10!
Lap 27, Riley Herbst’s lead is now under two second on Chandler Smith; Sheldon Creed, Austin Hill, and William Sawalich rounding out the top five with 34 cars on the lead lap. Cole Custer is in seventh, Justin Allgaier is in ninth, and AJ Allmendinger is in 18th.
Lap 31, Riley Herbst’s lead is down to a second and a half on Chandler Smith.
Austin Hill is reporting that the water gauge is pegged and is flashing red.
Lap 34, there are now 32 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 35, three of the playoff drivers are in the top 10 – Austin Hill is in fourth, Cole Custer is in seventh, Justin Allgaier is in eighth, and AJ Allmendinger is in 18th.
Lap 40, Riley Herbst’s lead is down to under a second on Chandler Smith. Justin Allgaier passes Cole Custer for sixth place.
There is a second red light on Austin Hill’s dashboard.
There are just 28 cars on the lead lap.
The crews have four sets of tires in their pit stalls.
Riley Herbst wins stage one for his third stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Riley Herbst
Chandler Smith
Sheldon Creed
Austin Hill
Sam Mayer
Justin Allgaier
Cole Custer
William Sawalich
Aric Almirola
Jesse Love
Drivers come down pit road for service with Riley Herbst winning the race off of pit road. Justin Allgaier came out in 10th place.
Shane van Gisbergen was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Riley Herbst brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Austin Hill alongside on lap 55. Drivers spread out across the track. Cole Custer makes it a three wide battle to take the lead.
Lap 56, the top five are Cole Custer, Riley Herbst, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, and Chandler Smith. Justin Allgaier is in sixth.
Lap 57, Justin Allgaier passes Chandler Smith for fifth with 27 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 58, Riley Herbst battles with Cole Custer for the lead and gets back out in front.
Lap 60, Cole Custer is in second, Austin Hill is in fourth, Justin Allgaier is in fifth, and AJ Allmendinger is in 12th.
the caution flag comes out on lap 62 for Stefan Parsons and Greg van Alst. Anthony Alfredo gets into the wall and then makes contact with Stefan Parsons, sending Parsons into the wall hard. Van Alst spins out on the track.
NASCAR has penalized Anthony Alfredo for reckless driving and will be held on pit road for two laps.
Riley Herbst brings the field down for the green flag restart with Cole Custer alongside on lap 75. Drivers are four and five wide going into turn one. Riley Herbst takes the lead with Sam Mayer in second and Justin Allgaier in third; Cole Custer and Aric Almirola round out the top five.
Cole Custer and Justin Allgaier battle for third. Custer takes third.
Chandler Smith brings out the caution flag on lap 77 when he spins out after slight contact with Sheldon Creed.
Many of the drivers come down pit road for service with Riley Herbst winning the race off of pit road but Sheldon Creed is the leader after staying out on the track. AJ Allmendinger also stayed out and is now in third place.
Sheldon Creed brings the field down for the green flag restart with eight laps remaining in stage two. Drivers get five and six wide on the track. Sheldon Creed is the leader with Jesse Love in second; AJ Allmendinger, Jeb Burton, and Aric Almirola round out the top five. Justin Allgaier is just outside the top five in sixth place. There are 27 cars on the lead lap. Stefan Parsons is out of the race.
Just four laps remaining in stage two, Sheldon Creed leads the race with Jesse Love in second; Aric Almirola, Riley Herbst, and Justin Allgaier.
Justin Allgaier is reporting that the tire is going down after contact with Riley Herbst. The final lap of stage two, Allgaier is trying to wait until the end of the stage.
Riley Herbst wins stage two to sweep the stages.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Riley Herbst
Sheldon Creed
Aric Almirola
Jesse Love
Cole Custer
Connor Zilisch
AJ Allmendinger
Sam Mayer
William Sawalich
Justin Allgaier
Drivers who stayed out on the last caution come down pit road for service. Justin Allgaier comes down for fresh left side tires but upon examination, the tire was not flat.
Riley Herbst brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 101 with Aric Almirlla alongside. Drivers get four and five wide on the start. Cole Custer takes second.
The playoff drivers are Cole Custer in second, Austin Hill in seventh, AJ Allmendinger in 10th, and Justin Allgaier in 12th.
Justin Allgaier has been charged with a restart violation and will have to serve a passthrough penalty. Allgaier returns to the track in 28th place, the last car on the lead lap.
Justin Allgaier has been charged with a second penalty, he was caught speeding on pit road and has to serve a second pass through penalty. Allgaier is now one lap down in 35th.
Lap 112, Riley Herbst has a near two second lead on Cole Custer; Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five.
Greg van Alst is off the track.
Lap 120, Riley Herbst has pulled out to a near three second lead on Cole Custer; Sam Mayer Sheldon Creed, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five with 27 cars on the lead lap. Justin Allgaier has moved up to 29th.
There are 76 laps remaining in the race; the drivers can make it to the end of the race from here on one more pit stop.
Lap 129, Riley Herbst has a three and a half second lead on Cole Custer with 26 cars on the lead lap; Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Jesse Love round out the top five. Justin Allgaier is up to 28th place.
Lap 132, Jeffrey Earnhardt comes down pit road for a fresh battery.
Just 64 laps remaining in the 2024 Xfinity season, Riley Herbst continues to dominate the race and is lapping more cars; Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, and Sam Mayer round out the top five. Cole Custer in in second, AJ Allmendinger is in seventh, Austin Hill is in 15th, and Justin Allgaier is in 26th one lap down.
Riley Herbst is “driving it like he stole it” with a lead of over five seconds on Cole Custer.
Lap 146, there are just 22 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 147, leader Riley Herbst begins the cycle of green flag pit stops. Cole Custer is the new leader.
Lap 149, Cole Custer makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Sheldon Creed.
Lap 150, Sheldon Creed makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Daniel Dye.
As green flag pit stops continue to cycle through, there are only six cars on the lead lap.
Lap 152, Daniel Dye makes his pit stop leaving Parker Kligerman and Justin Allgaier as the only drivers who have yet to make a pit stop.
The caution flag comes out on lap 154 when Anthony Alfredo gets into the wall causing some significant damage to the car. Parker Kligerman had made his pit stop, leaving Justin Allgaier as the only driver who hasn’t made a pit stop.
Pit road is open and some of the drivers come down pit road including Justin Allgaier and Austin Hill.
Riley Herbst brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 38 laps remaining in the season. Drivers get spread out across the track.
The top five are Riley Herbst, Connor Zilisch, Jesse Love, Cole Custer, and sam Mayer with just 14 cars on the lead lap.
Cole Custer is in fourth, AJ Allmendinger is in sixth, Justin Allgaier is in ninth, and Austin Hill is in 10th.
With 32 laps to go, Riley Herbst has a near one second lead on Jesse Love; Cole Custer, Connor Zilisch, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Anthony Alfredo and Grag van Alst are out of the race.
Thirty to go, Riley Herbst has dominated the race and continues to pull away from the field. Cole Custer is in third, Justin Allgaier is in sixth, Austin Hill is in eighth, and AJ Allmendinger is in 10th.
Jeffrey Earnhardt is slowed on the track and smoking.
Just 25 laps to go, Riley Herbst has a two and a half second lead on Jesse Love; Cole Custer, Connor Zilisch, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
With 24 laps to go, Cole Custer and Jesse Love battle for second.
Twenty to go, Riley Herbst has pulled out to a three and a half second lead on Jesse Love.
Jeffrey Earnhardt is off the track.
Sixteen to go, Riley Herbst holds a three and a half second lead on the field; Jesse Love, Cole Custer, Connor Zilisch, and Sam Mayer round out the top five. Justin Allgaier is mired back in sixth place.
Third place driver Cole Custer is in a position to repeat as Xfinity Series champion.
Thirteen to go, Justin Allgaier finally gets around teammate Sam Mayer for fifth with Cole Custer two spot ahead.
Ten to go! Riley Herbst now has a lead of over four seconds on Jesse Love; Cole Custer, Connor Zilisch, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five. Austin Hill passes Sam Mayer for sixth. AJ Allmendinger is in eleventh.
Eight to go, Connor Zilisch and Cole Custer battle for third.
Seven to go, Justin Allgaier passes Connor Zilisch for fourth.
Justin Allgaier is on Cole Custer’s bumper.
Six to go, Justin Allgaier passes Cole Custer for third!
Five to go! Riley Herbst has a near five second lead on Jesse Love; Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, and Austin Hill round out the top five.
Four to go, Justin Allgaier is on Jesse Love’s bumper.
Leland Honeyman brings out the caution flag on lap 107 when he spins out.
The race goes into overtime!
Pit road is open and very busy. Not all of the drivers have any sticker tires available. Taking only two tires, Austin Hill wins the race off of pit road. Justin Allgaier had a slow stop and came out on fifth place. His car would not launch.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the overtime shootout for the win. Drivers spread out with Jesse Love getting out front. Justin Allgaier passes Riley Herbst for second.
The caution flag comes out when Parker Retzlaff gets into the wall.
The race goes into a second over time.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the second overtime shootout for the win with Justin Allgaier alongside. Drivers get three wide with Justin Allgaier taking the lead. Drivers are four and five wide across the track.
Justin Allgaier takes the white flag with Riley Herbst on his bumper.
Riley Herbst wins the race but Justin Allgaier finally wins an Xfinity Series championship after seven tries!
Justin Allgaier does a burnout that makes the car disappear. Owner Dale Earnhardt Jr met Allgaier at the car. Allgaier comes out of the car through the roof flaps and dives into the arms of the crew. First big hugs from the owners. Allgaier is very emotional as he hugs everyone. And the girls give Dad a hug! The girls get a ride to victory lane in Dad’s car.
The unofficial results of the Xfinity Series championship race:
Riley Herbst
Justin Allgaier
Aric Almirola
Connor Zilisch
Chandler Smith
Jesse Love
Sheldon Creed
Cole Custer
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Hill
Sam Mayer
Shane van Gisbergen
William Sawalich
Parker Kligerman
Sammy Smith
Jeb Burton
Daniel Dye
Brandon Jones
Dylan Lupton
Jeremy Clements
Josh Bilicki
Blaine Perkins
Ryan Sieg
Brennan Poole
Matt DiBenedetto
Joey Gase
Patrick Emerling
Kyle Sieg
Garrett Smithley
Leland Honeyman
Dawson Cram
Josh Williams
Parker Retzlaff
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Anthony Alfredo
Greg van Alst
Stefan Parsons