The Trucks have the weekend off but the Xfinity Series joins the Cup drivers at Circuit of the Americas for some road course racing.
It will be a new experience for the drivers after NASCAR has reconfigured the course this year, shortening it by a mile.
Forty-one teams brought cars to COTA for 38 starting spots including Cup Series drivers Ross Chastain, Carson Hocevar, and William Byron. Truck Series regular Connor Zilisch is making his Xfinity Series debut.
When the green flag drops, Jeremy Clements will be making race start number 500!
During practice Jeremy Clements lost power steering.
Riley Herbst gets off into the grass and has a good bit of it on his grille.
The drivers get a full 50 practice session before being split into two groups for qualifying. There is only one round of qualifying. After each group has made a qualifying run, the times will be merged to set the field.
Baltazar Leguizamon is the first Argentinian to run in NASCAR. While this is his first ever Xfinity Series start; he does have road course experience in open wheel cars.
With a time of 97.262 seconds, Connor Zilisch puts the number 88 at the top of the leaderboard in Group A of qualifying and went on to put his car on the pole.
Four of the top five drivers are with JR Motorsports.
Thomas Annunziata, Parker Retzlaff and Brad Perez failed to make the race.
The starting lineup for the race:
Connor Zilisch
Ross Chastain
Willaim Byron
Justin Allgaier
Carson Kvapil
Corey Heim
Taylor Gray
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst
Christian Eckes
Jesse Love
Austin Hill
Brandon Jones
Sheldon Creed
Daniel Dye
Sammy Smith
Anthony Alfredo
Blaine Perkins
Nick Sanchez
Austin Green
Josh Williams
Matt DiBenedetto
William Sawalich
Carson Hocevar
Preston Pardus
Josh Bilicki
Alex Labbe
Sage Karam
Jeb Burton
Dean Thompson
Harrison Burton
Brennan Poole
Kris Wright
Ryan Ellis
Jeremy Clements
Kyle Sieg
Baltazar Leguizamon
Ryan Sieg
Several drivers will have to start the race from the back of the field after their crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars. This is an impound race and the teams were very limited in what kind of changes and adjustment they were allowed to make.
Stages one and two are 20 laps each with stage three lasting 25 laps for a total of 65 laps around the 2.4 mile course.
Conor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Ross Chastain alongside. The drivers quickly spread out through the field.
Connor Zilisch gets out in front to lead the race with Ross Chastain in second; William Byron, Justin Allgaier, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
The drivers can make each stage on a single load of fuel but some will stop before the end of the stage to take advantage of track position.
Ryan Ellis spins out but the track stays green.
Lap four, Connor Zilisch continues to lead the race with Ross Chastain in second.
The caution flag comes out on lap four when Carson Hocevar gets into the tire barrier after contact with Jeb Burton. He dropped the window net very quickly to indicate he is okay.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap seven with Ross Chastain alongside. Zilisch gets out in front after a battle with Chastain.
The top five are Connor Zilisch, Ross Chastain, William Byron, Justin Allgaier, and Corey Heim.
Sheldon Creed and Nick Sanchez were among the drivers who spun out in turn 20 but the track stayed green.
Out of the infield care center, Carson Hocevar noted that he had no radio; adding that he could not get the car refired.
Lap nine, Connor Zilisch has led every lap so far with Ross Chastain on his bumper.
Corey Heim has passed Justin Allgaier for fourth.
Leader Connor Zilisch has some debris on his front grille.
Lap 12, Connor Zilisch continues leading the race with Ross Chastain in second.
Drivers are beating and banging all through the field.
Lap 14, Jesse Love was among the drivers who started the race from the back of the field and has worked his way up to 13th.
Brennan Poole was charged with a stop and go penalty after short cutting the course.
Preston Pardus was charged with passing through too many pit boxes during his stop and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
The second caution flag of the race comes out when Baltazar Leguizamon stopped on the track.
Connor Zilisch came down pit road to short pit the end of stage one but the caution flag had already come out. He will have to restart the race form the back of the field.
With the stage ending under caution, William Byron wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Corey Heim
Sam Mayer
Justin Allgaier
Austin Hill
Christian Eckes
Sammy Smith
Anthony Alfredo
Alex Labbe
Drivers come down pit road for service with William Byron winning the race off of pit road but will restart the race in 13th.
Christian Eckes was caught speeding on pit road.
Some of the teams tires are showing blistering.
Taylor Gray brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Jesse Love alongside on lap 25. Gray gets out in front after turn one.
The top five are Taylor Gray, Jesse Love, Riley Herbst, Brandon Jones, and Carson Kvapil.
Taylor Gray and Jesse Love battle for the lead with Love getting out in front.
Lap 26, after having to restart the race from the back of the field, Connor Zilisch has moved up to 23rd.
The 35 car of Baltazar Leguizamon is out of the race with a suspension issue.
Lap 28, the top five are Jesse Love, Riley Herbst, Carson Kvapil, Taylor Gray and Sheldon Creed.
The caution flag comes out on lap 30 when Jeremy Clements gets into the tire barrier and knocks down the banner. Clements is able to stay in the race. The repair crew gets the banner replaced and firm up the tire barrier.
Preston Pardus and Christian Eckes will restart the race from the back of the field after going through too many pit stalls on pit road.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 32 with Riley Herbst alongside. Leaders spread out four and five wide going into turn one. Riley Herbst takes the lead.
The top five are Riley Herbst, Jesse Love, Carson Kvapil, Sheldon Creed, and Ryan Sieg.
Justin Allgaier has a tire rub.
Connor Zilisch has entered the top 10.
Nick Sanchez has been charged with short cutting the course and will have to serve a stop and go penalty.
Preston Pardus takes his car to the garage.
With six laps remaining in stage two, Riley Herbst leads the race with Carson Kvapil in second; Ross Chastain, Jesse Love, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five. Justin Allgaier comes down pit road to address the tire rub.
Justin Allgaier has to make a second trip down pit road for a second tire issue – his right rear tire is loose.
Four laps remain in stage two, drivers are beginning to make pit stops to flip the stage.
Justin Allgaier is battling to stay on the lead lap.
Preston Pardus is out of the race with a rear end issue.
Ross Chastain passes Riley Herbst for the lead on lap 37.
Ryan Sieg has to serve a stop and go penalty after short pitting the course.
Harrison Burton is the new leader as pit stops continue.
Sheldon Creed, Ross Chastain, and Riley Herbst were caught speeding on pit road.
Harrison Burton wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Harrison Burton
Daniel Dye
Sammy Smith
Jeb Burton
Ryan Sieg
Brennan Poole
Alex Labbe
Josh Williams
Sage Karam
Kyle Sieg
Drivers come down pit road for service with Ross Chastain winning the race off of pit road.
Carson Kvapil brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with William Byron alongside on lap 45.
Drivers spread out four wide going into turn one. Austin Hill takes the lead.
The top five are Austin Hill, Corey Heim, Connor Zilisch, Carson Kvapil, and William Byron.
Connor Zilisch has a tire rub and is smoking after contact with Corey Heim.
Brandon Jones has to serve a stop and go penalty.
With 16 laps to go, Austin Hill has a near one second lead on Carson Kvapil; Connor Zilisch, William Byron, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Carson Kvapil is closing the gap on leader Austin Hill, over a half second ahead.
The 53 car of Sage Karam has to serve a stop and go penalty.
Carson Kvapil has passed Autin Hill for the lead.
With 13 to go, teammates Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil battle for the lead. Kvapil holds on for the lead.
Twelve to go, the top five are Carson Kvapil, Connor Zilisch, Austin Hill, William Byron, and Taylor Gray.
Ten to go! Carson Kvapil leads the race with Connor Zilisch in second; Austin Hill, William Byron, and Taylor Gray round out the top five.
Connor Zilisch has caught Carson Kvapil; the teammates battle for the lead with Zilisch getting out in front.
The 25 car of Harrison Burton is in the garage with a mechanical issue.
Eight to go, Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch battle again for the lead. So far, Zilisch holds Kvapil off.
Seven laps to go; the top five are Connor Zilisch, Carson Kvapil, William Byron, Austin Hill, and Sam Mayer.
Five to go, Connor Zilisch leads the race with teammate Carson Kvapil in second; William Byron, Austin Hill, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Carson Kvapil reports a flat tire and has to come down pit road. William Byron moves up to second.
Four laps to go, Connor Zilisch has a lead of over four seconds on William Byron; Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, and Taylor Gray round out the top five.
Taylor Gray’s crew reports that Gray is a lap short of having enough fuel.
Two to go, Connor Zilisch has a lead of three and a half seconds on William Byron; Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, and Christian Eckes round out the top five.
Connor Zilisch takes the white flag!
After earning the pole, Connor Zilisch wins the race at COTA. This is the third road course race win in a row for JR Motorsports.
The unofficial results of the race are:
Connor Zilisch
William Byron
Sam Mayer
Austin Hill
Christian Eckes
Jesse Love
Taylor Gray
Ross Chastain
William Sawalich
Blaine Pekins
Sammy Smith
Sheldon Creed
Riley Herbst
Alex Labbe
Josh Williams
Ryan Ellis
Daniel Dye
Dean Thompson
Ryan Sieg
Brennan Poole
Anthony Alfredo
Josh Bilicki
Carson Kvapil
Nick Sanchez
Jeb Burton
Austin Green
Kyle Sieg
Jeremy Clements
Justin Allgaier
Brandon Jones
Corey Hiem
Matt DiBenedetto
Kris Wright
Sage Karam
Harrison Burton
Preston Pardus
Baltazar Leguizamon
Carson Hocevar