Early on a Saturday morning, the Xfinity Series gets the day started with practice and qualifying at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the Hard Rock Bet 300.
The drivers have been divided into two groups for two 25 minute practice sessions. Last night’s race winner Kyle Larson is on the track once again as he works his way through a triple header weekend.
Josh Williams is still having medical issues. After having some serious breathing issues, Josh has been diagnosed with pneumonia. He intends to start the race so that he will get credit for the race and then hand the driving duties over to Ty Dillon. But as every race fan knows, drivers get selfish once they get behind the wheel and ailments seem to disappear. Ty Dillon is in the car for practice.
This is the first race in the Dash-4-Cash program; Jesse Love, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill will all compete for the $100,000 prize.
One of the keys to winning at Homestead-Miami is the ability to ride the wall. Some of the teams are working on rim riding during practice. Kyle Larson has already earned his stripe as he scraped the wall.
Not surprising, Kyle Larson topped the leaderboard in Group 1 practice.
Daniel Dye gets into the wall and spins out into the grass.
Ryan Sieg topped the leaderboard in Group two practice.
There are 39 teams at Homestead-Miami this weekend for 38 starting spots.
Corey Heim is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 34.123 seconds around the mile and a half track.
Brad Perez was the first driver to break the 34 second mark with a time of 33.957 seconds.
Ty Dillon is qualifying the car for Josh Williams and put the car at the top of the board after 15 cars have made a run. But with the driver change – Williams starting the race – the car will have to start the race from the back of the field.
Brandon Jones will not make a qualifying run and will start the race from the back of the field.
With a time of 33.064 Taylor Gray puts his number 54 car on the pole. Connor Zilisch will start alongside on the front row.
Eight drivers are competing for the Rookie of the Year award this season; two of them are on the front row for this race. Four of the top five drivers are ROTY candidates.
The starting lineup for the Hard Rock Bet 300:
Taylor Gray
Connor Zilisch
Nick Sanchez
Justin Allgaier
Christian Eckes
Sam Mayer
Justin Bonsignore
Ryan Sieg
Sheldon Creed
Matt DiBenedetto
Ty Dillon (Josh Williams)
Harrison Burton
William Sawalich
Carson Kvapil
Sammy Smith
Blaine Perkins
Kyle Larson
Parker Retzlaff
Brennan Poole
Jesse Love
Austin Hill
Jeremy Clements
Jeb Burton
Dean Thompson
Anthony Alfredo
Brad Perez
Kyle Sieg
Ryan Ellis
Myatt Snider
Daniel Dye
Corey Heim
Patrick Emerling
Leland Honeyman
Mason Maggio
Joey Gase
Kris Wright
Garrett Smithley
Brandon Jones
Dawson Cram failed to qualify for the race.
Stages one and two of the race are 45 laps each with stage three lasting 110 laps for a total of 200 laps around the mile and a half track.
Taylor Gray brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Connor Zilisch alongside. Taylor Gray jumps out in front for the lead.
NASCAR has the start under review.
Drivers are three wide in a battle for position.
Carson Kvapil has been posted for getting out of line on the race start and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Lap three, Kyle Larson started the race in 17th and has entered the top 10.
Lap four, the top five are Taylor Gray, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Connor Zilisch, and Justin Bonsignore.
Lap six, Justin Allgaier and Taylor Gray battle for the lead with Allgaier taking the lead.
Lap eight, Kyle Larson has entered the top five.
Lap nine, Tay Gray comes up on the inside to battle with Justin Allgaier for the lead; Sam Mayer, Kyle Larson, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five.
Lap 12, Justin Allgaier has a lead of over half a second on Taylor Gray.
Lap 13, Sam Mayer passes Taylor Gray for second.
Lap 13, Kyle Larson passes Taylor Gray for third.
Lap 14, the top five are Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Kyle Larson, Taylor Gray, and Sheldon Creed.
Lap 16, after starting the race from the back of the field after a mechanical issue, Brandon Jones has moved up 23 spots.
The first caution flag of the race comes out on lap 17 when Christian Eckes drops fuel on the track with engine issues.
Pit road is open for a “quickie yellow” – all drivers may come down pit road at the same time. Several drivers at the back of the field came down pit road for adjustments and fresh tires.
Joey Gase was charged with an uncontrolled tire and will have to restart the race from the back of the longest line.
Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag restart with Sam Mayer alongside on lap 24. Drivers quickly get three and four wide across the track. Justin Allgaier holds on to the lead.
Kyle Larson passes Sam Mayer for second but Mayer comes back to battle for the position.
Lap 25, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Kyle Larson are in a three way battle for the lead. Lap 26, Kyle Larson takes the lead with Sam Mayer in second and Justin Allgaier in third.
Lap 27, all four of the Dash-4-Cash drivers are in the top 10; Sam Mayer in second, Justin Allgaier in third; Austin Hill in seventh, and Jesse Love in 10th.
Lap 30, the caution flag comes out when Kris Wright spins out. With flat tires, he slowly makes his way to pit road.
Christian Eckes is out of the race.
Pit road is open for a “quickie yellow”.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 34 with Sam Mayer alongside. Kyle Larson gets out in front for the lead as drivers are three and four wide through the field.
The top five are Kyle Larson, Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill.
Lap 35, Justin Allgaier and Kyle Larson battle for the lead.
Lap 48, the third caution flag of the race comes out when Justin Bonsignore spins out but keeps it off the wall.
Kris Wright is the “lucky dog”, making all 37 cars on the track are on the lead lap.
Josh Williams says that he is “feeling good” and the team has dismissed substitute driver Ty Dillon.
Just six laps from the end of the stage, several drivers come down pit road for service.
With four laps remaining in stage one, Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with Sam Mayer alongside. Kyle Larson holds on to the lead with Justin Allgaier in second.
William Sawalich reports numerous handling issue with his car.
Kyle Larson and Justin Allgaier battle for the lead with Leland Honeyman on their tail with fresh tires.
Kyle Sieg comes up on the inside to take the lead with two laps remaining in the stage.
Sammy Smith comes up to take the stage one win with Kyle Sieg in second.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Sammy Smith
Kyle Sieg
Ryan Sieg
Kyle Larson
Justin Allgaier
Sam Mayer
Leland Honeyman
Sheldon Creed
Jesse Love
Austin Hill
Drivers come down pit road for service with Sammy Smith winning the race off of pit road. Kyle Larson comes out second with Justin Allgaier in third.
Justin Allgaier was charged with running through too many pit boxes and will have to restart the race from the back of the longest line.
After staying out on the track, Harrison Burton brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 54 with Carson Kvapil alongside. Drivers get three and four wide with Carson Kvapil in the lead.
Jesse Love, Kyle Larson, and Carson Kvapil battle for the lead with Jesse Love getting out in front for the lead.
The top five are Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, Kyle Larson, Carson Kvapil, and Austin Hill.
Lap 58, Sam Mayer passes Jesse Love for the lead.
Lap 61, Kyle Larson passes Jesse Love for second; he is half a second behind leader Sam Mayer.
Lap 63, Justin Allgaier has entered the top 20 after restarting the race at the back of the field.
Lap 65, Sam Mayer has a half second lead on Kyle Larson; Austin Hill, Jesse Love, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five.
Lap 68, Justin Allgaier is now in the top 15 as he works his way back through the field.
Corey Heim takes his car to the garage with mechanical issues.
Lap 72, the top five are Sam Mayer, Kyle Larson, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, and Connor Zilisch.
Lap 74, Justin Allgaier is in the top 10!
Kyle Larson has caught leader Sam Mayer and is challenging for the lead.
Lap 79, the top five are Sam Mayer, Kyle Larson, Sheldon Creed, Austin Hill, and Connor Zilisch.
Lap 80, Kyle Larson has caught leader Sam Mayer and is battling for the lead.
Lap 82, Kyle Larson takes the lead.
Leaders have begun passing slower traffic.
Six to go in stage two, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on Sam Mayer.
Austin Hill is reporting some possible cording on his tires.
Four laps to go in stage two, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Sam Mayer.
Ryan Sieg makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with a possible blown engine.
Kyle Larson wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Kyle Larson
Sam Maher
Sheldon Creed
Austin Hill
Connor Zilisch
Nick Sanchez
Jesse Love
Justin Allgaier
Sammy Smith
Brandon Jones
Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson winning the race off of pit road.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 96 with Austin Hill alongside. Kyle Larson leads the race with driver three and four wide through the field.
With over 100 laps in stage three, the drivers will have to make a pit stop during the stage.
Lap 97, Kyle Larson leads the race with Sam Mayer in second; Jesse Love, Sheldon Creed, and Austin Hill round out the top five. Continuing his move to the front, Justin Allgaier is just outside the top five in sixth.
Lap 101, Justin Allgaier and Sheldon Creed battle for fifth.
Jesse Love and Sam Mayer battle for second.
Kyle Larson has a lead of over half a second on Sam Mayer.
Lap 106, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to over a second on Sam Mayer; Jesse Love, Austin Hill, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five. The Dash-4-Cash drivers are 2-3-4-5.
Lap 115, Austin Hill passes Jesse Love for third; Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over two seconds.
Lap 117, Justin Allgaier passes Jesse Love for fourth.
Late in the afternoon, the sun is beginning to become an issues as it casts a glare on the windshield.
With 79 laps to go, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of nearly three seconds on Sam Mayer.
Lap 124, Justin Bonsignore has to make an unscheduled trip down pit road after getting tinto the wall.
Lap 120, Kyle Larson has a three second lead on Sam Mayer; Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
With 65 laps to go, Kyle Larson continues to expand his lead and is now four seconds out in front of Sam Mayer; Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five. He continues to lap slower traffic.
Lap 140, Sammy Smith is the first driver to come down pit road for his scheduled pit stop. The drivers are now in their pit window to make it to the end of the race.
More drivers are coming down pit road for service.
Lap 143, “Driving it like he stole it, Kyle Larson is now over six seconds out in front of Sam Mayer.
Green flag pit stops continue including Sam Mayer and Austin Hill; Justin Allgaier is now in second place.
Lap 146, leader Kyle Larson and Justin Allgaier make their pit stop; giving the lead over to Connor Zilisch. Zilisch is the last driver to need a pit stop; once they cycle through, Kyle Larson will return as the race leader.
Lap 148, all green flag pit stops are complete; Kyle Larson is the leader with Justin Allgaier in second.
Connor Zilisch is charged with having a crew member over the wall too soon and has to serve a passthrough penalty.
With 47 laps to go the top five are Kyle Larson, Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Jesse Love.
Before the pit stops, Kyle Larson has a seven second lead; with 40 laps remaining in the race, Larson’s lead is down to under four seconds; Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, Kustin Allgaier, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
With 38 laps to go, there are only eight cars on the lead lap.
Thirty-five laps to go, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to over five second on Sam Mayer; Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Reporting a tight condition all race, Austin Hill’s tires show repeated cording with the last set running the entire circumference of the tire.
Just 25 laps to go, Kyle Larson has an eight second lead on Sam Mayer; but Austin Hill is over 17 seconds behind.
Kyle Larson, Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, and Nick Sanchez are the only drivers on the lead lap.
Sheldon Creed and Jesse Love battle for fifth. If Creed gets the spot it would also qualify him for the Dash-4-Cash at Martinsville next week.
Sheldon Creed has finally gotten past Jesse Love.
Twenty to go! Sammy Smith makes an unscheduled pit stop reporting a possible flat tire.
Rim riding Kyle Larson is officially “driving it like he stole it” with a lead of over eleven seconds!
There are just six cars on the lead lap.
Fifteen to go, Kyle Larson has dominated the race and has a lead of over 13 seconds. Larson is running all three races this weekend and looking to do what Kyle Busch has done twice – win all three races in the same weekend.
Ten to go! Kyle Larson has lapped all but five drivers in the field; Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.
Kye Larson passes Jesse Love to put him a lap down.
The caution flag comes out with eight to go when Taylor Gray spins out. Jesse Love is the “lucky dog”.
Lead lap drivers come down pit road for fresh tires with Kyle Larson winning the “race” off of pit road. The top five come out of pit road the same order they came into pit road.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the two lap overtime shootout to the end with Austin Hill on the outside. Austin Hill gets out in front but Justin Allgaier comes up to battle for the lead.
Austin Hill takes the white flag.
Justin Allgaier takes the lead and wins the race plus a $100,000 bonus. This is the first time Allgaier has finished a race in the top five at Homestead-Miami. Allgaier is the first repeat winner of 2025.
After dominating the race, Kyle Larson finished fourth.
The unofficial results of the Hard Rock Live 300:
Justin Allgaier
Sam Mayer
Austin Hill
Kyle Larson
Sheldon Creed
Jesse Love
Brandon Jones
Nick Sanchez
Daniel Dye
Carson Kvapil
Harrison Burton
Connor Zilisch
Dean Thompson
Brennan Poole
Jeb Burton
Justin Bonsignore
Parker Retzlaff
Anthony Alfredo
Josh Williams
Ryan Ellis
Sammy Smith
Ryan Sieg
Taylor Gray
William Sawalich
Blaine Perkins
Jeremy Clements
Kyle Sieg
Brad Perez
Joey Gase
Myatt Snider
Garrett Smithley
Kris Wright
Patrick Emerling
Leland Honeyman
Mason Maggio
Matt DiBenedetto
Corey Heim
Christian Eckes
Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, and Sheldon Creed will compete for the Dash-4-Cash next week