The trucks have finished qualifying and the Xfinity Series takes to the track for practice on a cloudy Daytona afternoon for the United Rentals 300.
A new season, some of the teams have more than just the track to get familiar with as they also get familiar with a new voice in their ear.
But one thing that has not changed is Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill who is looking to win his fourth Daytona race in a row.
Now an Xfinity Series champion, Justin Allgaier said that now he can just have some fun. Allgaier made bossman Dale Jr and JR Motorsports a very happy man when he raced himself into the Daytona 500. While JR has run the 500 numerous times and won it twice, he has never been a part of the 500 as a car owner.
There are eight drivers in the battle for Rookie of the Year this season including Connor Zilisch, Daniel Day, Christian Eckes, and William Sawalich.
Drivers are reporting a heavy head wind on the backstretch.
Champ Justin Allgaier is in the garage with reports of the car isn’t right. He says there is an issue in high gear. There was an issue with the carburetor and it had to be replaced.
In the broadcast booth for the CW Network are Adam Alexander, Jamie McMurray, and Parker Kligerman.
Forty-one teams have brought cars to Daytona for 38 starting spots in the race.
Weather has once again interfered with plans and has delayed the start of qualifying. Once the drivers get out on the track, qualifying has been changed from two rounds to one.
After a 15 minute delay, the drivers are finally on the track. Joey Gase is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 48,891 seconds.
Of the 10 drivers who have made a qualifying run, only three of them has posted times below the 50 second mark. As qualifying progresses, more drivers will make faster times.
Jeremy Clements was on the track when NASCAR displayed the yellow flag for more rain on the track. Should the rain wash out the remainder of qualifying, the starting lineup will be determined by the NASCAR rule book which will be based on points from last year and practice times.
The rain has increased and NASCAR has cancelled the remainder of qualifying. As a result, Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier will sit on the pole.
JJ Yeley, Carson Ware, and CJ McLaughlin failed to qualify for the race.
With two races scheduled for today, the jet dryers are out in force to try and make sure the track is in racing condition for the ARCA and Xfinity races. NASCAR does not use wet weather tires on the super speedways.
The starting lineup for the United Rentals 300:
Justin Allgaier
Taylor Gray
Christian Eckes
Austin Hill
William Sawalich
Sheldon Creed
Brandon Jones
Sam Mayer
Jesse Love
Carson Kvapil
Nick Sanchez
Daniel Dye
Sammy Smith
Ryan Sieg
Justin Bonsignore
Greg van Alst
Kris Wright
Brennan Poole
Dean Thompson
Connor Zilisch
Josh Williams
Jeb Burton
Kyle Sieg
Ryan Ellis
Jeremy Clements
Blaine Perkins
Anthony Alfredo
Parker Retzlaff
Josh Bilicki
Matt DiBenedetto
Garrett Smithley
Harrison Burton
Ryan Truex
Leland Honeyman
Patrick Emerling
Caesar Bacarella
Joey Gase
Jordan Anderson
Stages one and two are 30 laps each with stage three lasting 60 laps for a total of 120 laps around the 2.5 mile track.
New this season, the driver who makes the fastest lap in the race earns a bonus point.
Parker Retzlaff, Ryan Truex, and Anthony Alfredo will start the race from the back of the field after the crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars.
Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane with Taylor Gray alongside. Allgaier edges out to take the lead on the high side. The top line has developed quickly but the inside lane is forming up.
The 2024 Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier leads the first lap.
Rookie drivers Taylor Gray and William Sawalich lead the inside lane.
Lap five, Justin Allgaier has led every lap so far with Austin Hill in second.
The first caution flag of the race comes out on lap six for a big crash on the backstretch. Austin Hill is the new leader.
Brandon Jones got turned by Jesse Love. Carson Kvapil, Daniel Dye, Harrison Burton, Connor Zilisch, Garrett Smithley, and Brennan Poole were also involved.
NASCAR called for a quickie yellow with a few drivers taking advantage to make a pit stop.
The sun will be an issue for drivers until it goes behind the stands when the race will end under the lights.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 12. Hill gets a push from Sheldon Creed on the outside lane with Justin Allgaier on the inside lane.
Austin Hill holds on to the lead; Sheldon Creed, Justin Allgaier, Taylor Gray, and Christian Eckes round out the top five.
Lap 16, Austin Hill holds on to a narrow lead over Sheldon Creed. Justin Allgaier leads the inside lane.
Daniel Dye and Brandon Jones are out of the race after the lap six crash.
Lap 19, the drivers have gotten single file with the exception of a few drivers back in the field with Austin Hill leading the way. Hill is going for his fourth Daytona win in a row.
Lap 20, the second caution flag comes out for debris on the track. The 44 car of Brennan Poole has some sheet metal blowing in the wind.
Some drivers come down pit road for service. Drivers who stop now can make it to the end of stage two on fuel.
Kyle Sieg has an mechanical issue and needs a push back to pit road.
Brennan Poole was charged with coming down pit road while it was still closed.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 26 and edges out in front of Taylor Gray to hold on to the lead.
Just like on the highway, the double yellow line at the apron is the “no go” line. Drivers cannot go below the line and advance their position or will have to serve a penalty. The only exception is if a fellow driver pushed the car below the line.
Austin Hill wins stage one and earns the first playoff point of the season for his tenth Daytona stage win.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Austin Hill
Sheldon Creed
Nick Sanchez
Jeb Burton
Anthony Alfredo
Leland Honeyman
Justin Allgaier
Dean Thompson
Jesse Love
Taylor Gray
Christian Eckes comes down pit road while it is still closed.
Kyle Sieg is out of the race with a drive train issue.
Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 37 after staying out on the track. Allgaier and Harrison Burton go side by side in a battle for the lead.
Lap 38, Justin Allgaier leads the race as the drivers get three wide.
Lap 39, Harrison Burton and Justin Allgaier battle for the lead, swapping it back and forth.
Sammy Smith passes Harrison Burton for second.
Lap 40, Justin Allgaier and Samy Mayer battle for the lead.
Lap 41, Sam Mayer takes the lead.
Lap 42, Jeb Burton comes up on the inside to take the lead.
Lap 43, Sam Mayer moves up on the outside to battle with Jeb Burton for the lead.
Halfway through stage two, lap 45, Austin Hill retakes the lead with Ryan Sieg on his bumper; Nick Sanchez, Connor Zilisch, and Ryan Trux round out the top five.
Lap 49, Austin Hill holds on to the lead with Ryan Sieg in second; Nick Sanchez, Connor Zilisch, and Ryan Truex round out the top five.
With just five laps remaining in stage two much of the field is single file on the outside lane with Austin Hill leading the way.
The caution flag comes out on lap 58 for a crash; Nick Sanchez gets into the wall.
Stage two ends under caution with Austin Hill winning the stage for the stage sweep.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Austin Hill
Ryan Sieg
Sheldon Creed
Justin Allgaier
Dean Thompson
Jeb Burton
Tanner Gray
William Sawalich
Anthony Alfredo
Harrison Burton
Austin Hill wins the race off of pit road.
During a television shot it showed some fluid on the rear camera of Austin Hill’s car. He noted that he smelled “something funny” but the crew has made not comment.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 66 with Taylor Gray alongside. The two battle back and forth for the lead.
Lap 67, Austin Hill gets out in front for the lead.
With 53 laps to go the top five are Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Ryan Sieg, Justin Allgaier, and Jeb Burton.
Austin Hill and Sheldon Creed battle for the lead.
Lap 68, Ryan Sieg pushes Sheldon Creed to the lead on the inside lane.
Lap 71, Austin Hill passes Sheldon Creed to take the lead.
With 47 laps to go, the top four drivers are single file with Austin Hill leading the race on the outside lane.
With a 60 lap stage, the drivers will have to make a pit stop.
There is some smoke coming from Austin Hill’s car. And there is still fluid coming from the car.
With 44 laps to go, Austin Hill and Ryan Sieg battle for the lead. Sieg gets out in front on the outside lane.
Blaine Perkins’ car is also smoking.
With 42 laps to go, Austin Hill has retaken the lead with Ryan Sieg in second; Sheldon Creed, Jeb Burton, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Austin Hill reports smoke in the cockpit and a bad smell like the car is “blowing up”. But the gages look good. His crew chief told Hill to “run it out”.
Lap 80 drivers begin making green flag pit stops. Justin Allgaier reports a tight condition.
Lap 82, more drivers come down pit road for green flag pit stops.
Garrett Smithley is charged with interference and has to serve a pass through penalty.
When Austin Hill came down pit road, officials held him until his issue is repaired.
The caution flag comes out with 34 laps remaining in the race for a crash involving Kris Wright and Josh Bilicki coming down pit road. Wright was speeding and ran into Bilicki. Pit reporters say that Kris Wright had no brakes when he hit Josh Bilicki.
Austin Hill returns to the race five laps down.
Amidst pit stops, Caesar Bacarella is the leader of the race with Sheldon Creed in second; Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, and Taylor Gray round out the top five.
Austin Hill takes his car to the garage and is out of the race.
Sheldon Creed is the new leader after pit stops with Sam Mayer in second.
With just 25 laps remaining in the race, Sheldon Creed brings the field down for the green flag restart; but it is Jesse Love on the inside lane who gets out in front for the lead.
Lap 96, Jesse Love leads the race with Sheldon Creed in second; Harrison Burton, Sam Mayer, and Ryan Sieg round out the top five.
Garrett Smithley takes his car to the garage with mechanical issues.
Josh Bilicki is out of the race with mechanical issues.
Twenty to go, Harrison Burton gets a big push and takes the lead, but Jesse Love comes back up on the outside to battle for the lead. Drivers are getting three wide back in the field.
With 17 laps to go, Jesse Love drops down to the inside lane to hold on to the lead.
Lap 104, Jesse Love moves back and forth between the inside and outside lanes blocking drivers to keep the lead.
Fifteen to go, the top five are Jesse Love, Connor Zilisch, Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Sammy Smith.
After a slow pit stop and going a lap down, Justin Allgaier is back on the lead lap and in the top 10 in seventh place.
Rookie Connor Zilisch was one of the cars involved in the lap five crash; he is now battling with Jesse Love for the lead.
Ten to go! Jesse Love leads the race with Sheldon Creed in second; Sam Mayer, Taylor Gray, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out with just seven laps remaining in the race for a big crash involving Justin Allgaier, Justin Bonsignore, Anthony Alfredo, and Sammy Smith.
With just six laps remaining in the race, NASCAR has called for a quickie yellow allowing any driver who wishes to make a pit stop to come down pit road.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag restart with just three laps remaining in the race with Sheldon Creed alongside. Love gets out in front with Taylor Gray behind him.
Sheldon Creed comes up to pass Taylor Gray to take second.
Caution flag comes out with two laps to go for a crash involving several cars. The race will goes into overtime. Parker Retzlaff, William Sawalich, Connor Zilisch, Ryan Ellis, Greg van Alst, Christian Eckes, Leland Honeyman, and Carson Kvapil were all involved in the wreck.
Six of the eight rookie drivers have been involved in crashes today.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the overtime shootout with Sam Mayer alongside. Love edges out in front and drops down in front barely missing Sam Mayer for the lead.
Caution flag comes out for a crash. Jesse Love was took the white flag just before the caution came out. Jesse Love wins the race!
Justin Allgaier, Josh Williams, Jeb Burton, and Ryan Sieg were among those involved in the last crash.
Jesse Love does a burnout that buries the car in celebration. He pops out of the roof hatch to exit the car.
The unofficial results of the United Rentals 300:
Jesse Love
Sam Mayer
Sheldon Creed
Carson Kvapil
Jordan Anderson
Harrison Burton
Dean Thompson
Jeremy Clements
Patrick Emerling
Taylor Gray
Matt DiBenedetto
Christian Eckes
Caesar Bacarella
Josh Bilicki
Joey Gase
Jeb Burton
Ryan Truex
Justin Allgaier
Ryan Sieg
Josh Williams
Leland Honeyman
Anthony Alfredo
Ryan Ellis
Sammy Smith
Justin Bonsignore
Greg Van Alst
Connor Zilisch
William Sawalich
Parker Retzlaff
Brennan Poole
Garrett Smithley
Kris Wright
Austin Hill
Blaine Perkins
Nick Sanchez
Kyle Sieg
Brandon Jones
Daniel Dye