It’s a doubleheader weekend for NASCAR when the Xfinity and Cup Series teams come to Darlington and once again try to tame the Lady in Black.
The mile and a third track is known for drivers scraping the wall and earning their “Darlington Stripe”. And after the tussle last week at Martinsville, there is sure to be plenty of beating and banging out on the track for the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200.
Forty teams have brought cars to Darlington for 38 starting spots including Cup Series drivers Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell.
It’s a throwback weekend with the teams displaying classic paint schemes.
On a cloudy Saturday morning, the drivers have been divided into two groups with each getting a 25 minute practice session before making a single round of qualifying.
Halfway through Group 1 practice, the red flag came out for fluid on the track from Greg van Alst’s car. Due to extended cleanup for oil on the track, NASCAR has added nine minutes to Group 1’s practice time.
The time between Groups 1 and 2 has been shortened.
Nick Sanchez topped to leaderboard in Group 1.
Austin Hill reports a “really bad” vibration in his car.
Though seventh overall, Christopher Bell topped the leaderboard for Group 2.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Dawson Cram who posted a time of 31.211 seconds around the 1.33 mile track.
Ross Chastain is the first driver to break the 31 second mark with a time of 30.603 seconds.
Taylor Gray posted a time of 30 seconds flat!
William Sawalich scraped the wall on his lap; NASCAR has held up qualifying while they check the track for fluid or debris.
Brandon Jones is the first driver to break the 30 second mark with a time of 29.915 seconds.
With a time of 29.911 seconds Christopher Bell puts his number 19 car on the pole. JGR teammate Brandon Jones will start alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200:
Christopher Bell
Brandon Jones
Justin Allgaier
Taylor Gray
Sam Mayer
Carson Kvapil
Daniel Dye
Chase Elliott
Christian Eckes
Sheldon Creed
Jesse Love
Sammy Smith
Kris Wright
Harrison Burton
Nick Sanchez
Connor Zilisch
Ryan Sieg
Jeremy Clements
Austin Hill
William Sawalich
Matt DiBenedetto
Jeb Burton
Brennan Poole
Blaine Perkins
Ryan Ellis
Parker Retzlaff
Ross Chastain
Garrett Smithley
Josh Williams
Dean Thompson
Josh Bilicki
Anthony Alfredo
Leland Honeyman
Kyle Sieg
Mason Massey
Nick Leitz
David Starr
Greg van Alst did not make a qualifying run.
Austin Green and Dawson Cram failed to qualify for the race.
Brennan Poole’s number 44 car has won Best in Show for his “Looney Tunes” Jeff Gordon throwback.
Stages one and two are 45 laps each with stage three lasting 57 laps for a total of 147 laps around the 1.33 mile track.
Austin Hill will have to start the race from the back of the field after the crew had to repair the right side of the car due to hitting the wall during qualifying. Daniel Dye, William Sawalich, Garrett Smithley, Dean Thompson, and Greg van Alst will also be starting the race from the back of the field after crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars.
Austin Hill had trouble getting the engine fired and needed a little push to get started.
On a hot South Carolina afternoon Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Brandon Jones alongside. Bell edges out in front for the lead from the outside lane with Brandon Jones in second.
Lap three, the top five are Christopher Bell, Brandon Jones, Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, and Justin Allgaier.
Lap six, Christopher Bell has a third of a second lead on Brandon Jones; Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, and Justin Allgaier.
Darlington is a track where the driver has to concentrate more on racing the track and not his fellow drivers.
Lap 10, Sam Mayer passes Taylor Gray for third.
Justin Allgaier passes Taylor Gray for fourth.
Lap 12, Christopher Bell leads the race but Brandon Jones is on his bumper and looking to take the lead.
Lap 20, Christopher Bell holds on to the lead with Brandon Jones on his bumper; Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, and Taylor Gray round out the top five.
Lap 21, Brandon Jones battles with Christopher Bell for the lead.
Lap 22 Justin Allgaier and Brandon Jones battle for second.
The first caution flag of the race for Kris Wright after hitting the wall. Wright comes down pit road.
The bumper cover on Josh Williams’ car is hanging and flapping.
A few drivers come down pit road for service. Harrison Burton has some damage to his car after a tussle with cousin Jeb.
Josh Williams and Kris Wright will have to restart the race from the back of the field after pitting before pit road was open.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with Justin Allgaier alongside on lap 29. Allgaier gets out in front for the lead.
The top five are Justin Allgaier, Christopher Bell, Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer, and Christian Eckes.
After starting back in the field in 27th, Melon Man Ross Chastain has entered the top 10.
Drivers who came down pit road for fresh tires are moving through the field but may be short changed for tires at the end of the race. The teams have only four sets of tires for the entire race.
Kirs Wright takes his car to the garage with a mechanical issue.
One of the drivers who came down pit road, Harrison Burton is now in the top 10, just outside the top five.
Lap 35, Justin Allgaier has a lead of over two seconds on Christopher Bell; Brandon Jones, Harrison Burton, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Harrison Burton passes Brandon Jones and Christopher Bell for second.
Lap 38, eight laps remain in stage one, Harrison Burton has closed the gap on leader Justin Allgaier to just a second.
With six laps remaining in the stage Harrison Burton passes Justin Allgaier for the lead.
Also on fresher tires, Kyle Sieg passes Brennan Poole for third.
Four laps to go in stage one; the top five are Harrison Burton, Justin Allgaier, Kyle Sieg, Brennan Poole, and Brandon Jones.
Harrison Burton wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Harrison Burton
Justin Allgaier
Brennan Poole
Kyle Sieg
Anthony Alfredo
Brandon Jones
Christian Eckes
Josh Bilicki
Ross Chastain
Sheldon Creed
Sam Mayer scraped the wall and dropped four spots and out of the top 10.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Brandon Jones winning the race off of pit road and Justin Allgaier in second.
Brandon Jones brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two from the outside lane with Justin Allgaier alongside on lap 54. Allgaier edges out to take the lead.
The top five are Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, Harrison burton, Christian Eckes, and Ross Chastain.
Drivers are getting three wide across the narrow track.
Lap 56, Justin Allgaier leads the race with Christian Eckes in second; Harrison Burton, Ross Chastain, and Brandon Jones round out the top five.
Lap 59, Ross Chastain passes Christian Eckes for second.
Lap 62, Justin Allgaier holds on to the lead; Ross Chastain, Christian Eckes, Brandon Jones, and Harrison Burton round out the top five.
Jeb Burton makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with a flat tire.
Lap 64, Ross Chastain begins to challenge leader Justin Allgaier.
Lap 69, Justin Allgaier has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second and a half on Ross Chastain; Christian Eckes, Brandon Jones, and Harrison Burton round out the top five.
Lap 73, Justin Allgaier is now two seconds out in front of Ross Chastain; Christian Eckes, Brandon Jones, and Harrison Burton round out the top five.
Lap 77, Justin Allgaier continues to increase his lead on Ross Chastain and is now three and a half seconds out in front.
Lap 80, old tires don’t appear to be an issue for Justin Allgaier; he is now over four seconds out in front of Christian Eckes; Ross Chastain, Brandon Jones, and Harrison Burton round out the top five.
Just six laps remain in stage two and Justin Allgaier has a four second lead on Christian Eckes.
With a lead of nearly four and a half seconds, Justin Allgaier wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Justin Allgaier
Christian Eckes
Ross Chastain
Brandon Jones
Harrison Burton
Carson Kvapil
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Jesse Love
Sheldon Creed
Drivers come down pit road for service with Justin Allgaier winning the race off of pit road.
Jeremy Clements was charged with vehicle interference and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Jeb Burton was charged with a safety violation and will restart the race from the back of the field.
Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three from the inside lane with 49 laps remaining in the race. Allgaier gets out in front of Ross Chastain to hold on to the lead.
Lap 99, Ross Chastain and Justin Allgaier battle for the lead. Ross Chastain is the new leader.
The top five are Ross Chastain, Justin Allgaier, Christopher Bell, Christian Eckes, and Brando n Jones.
Austin Hill gets loose but saves the car and the track stays green.
With 43 laps to go Ross Chastain leads the race with Justin Allgaier in second; Christopher Bell, Brandon Jones, and Char Elliott round out the top five.
Sam Mayer has a smoking car.
With 39 to gi, Ross Chastain holds on to the lead and is less than half a second in front of Justin Allgaier.
The caution flag comes out with 36 laps to go when Taylor Gray spins out and goes sliding down the track after hitting the wall.
With 34 laps remaining in the race, the drivers can come down pit road and pit on the that final set of fresh tires to make a run to the end of the race.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Harrison Burton winning the race off of pit road. Justin Allgaier had a slow stop when a crew member fell down.
Harrison Burton brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with Brandon Jones alongside. There are just 30 laps remaining in the race. Burton’s tire change was two scuffed tires. Brandon Jones gets out in front for the lead. Justin Allgaier restarted the race in 15th place.
Garrett Smithley spins out to bring out the caution flag.
Taylor Gray is the “lucky dog”.
The top five are Brandon Jones, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, and Jesse Love.
Brandon Jones brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with just 24 laps remaining in the race. Jones edges out in front for the lead with Christopher Bell in second; Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, and Christian Eckes round out the top five.
Christopher Bell gets into the wall and has a tire rub.
Justin Allgaier is back in the top 10.
With 21 laps to go, Ross Chastain comes up on the outside and passes Brandon Jones for the lead; Christopher Bell, Christian Eckes, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out when Anthony Alfredo spins out with 19 laps remaining in the race. Josh Williams, Leland Honeyman, and Kyle Sieg were also involved.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for service and adjustments with Brandon Jones winning the race off of pit road.
Staying out on the track, the top five are Brennan Poole, Jeb burton, Josh Bilicki, Kyle Sieg, and Daivd Starr.
Blaine Perkins was charged with improper fueling and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Brennan Poole brings the field down for the green flag restart with Jeb Burton alongside with just 12 laps remaining in the race. Jeb Burton takes the lead.
The top five are Brandon Jones, Jeb Burton, Chase Elliott, Justin Allgaier, and Ross Chastain.
Chase Elliott and Justin Allgaier pass Jeb Burton.
Ross Chastain passes Jeb Burton as Burton falls through the field on older tires.
Just nine laps to go; Brandon Jones has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott; Justin Allgaier, Ross Chastain, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Just five to go, Brandon Jones has a one second lead on Chase Elliott; Justin Allgaier, Ross Chastain, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Three to go, Brandon Jones holds on to a one second lead over Chase Elliott. It has been 98 races since Brandon Jones last won a race.
Brandon Jones takes the white flag.
Brandon Jones wins the race with Chase Elliott in second.
The unofficial results of the race:
Brandon Jones
Chase Elliott
Justin Allgaier
Ross Chastain
Carson Kvapil
Connor Zilisch
Christian Eckes
Nick Sanchez
Sammy Smith
Sheldon Creed
Jesse Love
Ryan Sieg
Harrison Burton
Sam Mayer
Jeb Burton
Austin Hill
Daniel Dye
Dean Thompson
Brennan Poole
Parker Retzlaff
Jeremy Clements
Ryan Ellis
Matt DiBenedetto
Josh Bilicki
Christopher Bell
David Starr
Nick Leitz
Blaine Perkins
Mason Massey
Kyle Sieg
Anthony Alfredo
Garrett Smithley
Taylor gray
Greg van Alst
William Sawalich
Josh Williams
Leland Honeyman
Kris Wright