The Xfinity Series kicks off a doubleheader weekend of short track racing at Iowa Speedway with the HyVee Perks 250.
Thirty-eight teams brought cars to Iowa for 38 starting spots this week.
After the suspension of Austin Hill las week, the number 21 car will have Austin Dillon behind the wheel.
Carson Hocevar is driving the number eleven car this week after Kaulig Racing and Josh Williams parted ways. Hocevar went from the Truck Series to the Cup Series and has very limited experience with the Xfinity cars.
And the Melon Man returns with Ross Chastain in the field this week driving the JRM number nine car.
Driving the Joe Gibbs Racing number 19 this week is Justin Bonsignore. The 19 is one of the cars that field multiple drivers this season.
Meanwhile, at another short track, Major League Baseball is getting ready to make history at Bristol Motor Speedway with the Speedway Classic. The Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds will play a game on a field constructed in the infield to play the first ever professional baseball game in Tennessee…and Bristol.
The drivers get a full 50 minute practice session before making a qualifying run.
Called a short track, Iowa is just short of a mile at 7/8ths of a mile.
Ford has yet to win a race in the Xfinity Series this season.
Taylor Gray is reporting some major brake issues – the brake goes to the floor. The 54 team is changing the brake rotors after they became warped. Taylor Gray will not be making a qualifying run.
Ryan Sieg tops the list after practice.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Ross Chastain who posted a time of 23.972 seconds.
Patrick Emerling reports that the motor died during his qualifying run.
Dawson Cram and Tyler Tomassi did not make a qualifying run.
With a time of 23.642 seconds, Jesse Love put his number two car on the pole; William Sawalich will start alongside Love on the front row.
The starting lineup for the HyVee Perks 250:
Jesse Love
William Sawalich
Carson Hocevar
Connor Zilisch
Sam Mayer
Austin Dillon
Ryan Sieg
Carson Kvapil
Sammy Smith
Daniel Dye
Ross Chastain
Brandon Jones
Matt DiBenedetto
Sheldon Creed
Justin Allgaier
Justin Bonsignore
Harrison Burton
Corey Day
Anthony Alfredo
Dean Thompson
Blaine Perkins
Brennan Poole
Thomas Annunziata
Kyle Sieg
Christian Eckes
Nick Sanchez
Jeremy Clements
Parker Retzlaff
Josh Bilicki
Garrett Smithley
Mason Massey
Joey Gase
Jeb Burton
Ryan Ellis
Patrick Emerling
Taylor Gray
Dawson Cram
Tyler Tomassi
Stages one and two are 60 laps each with stage three lasting 130 laps for a total of 250 laps around the track.
Sammy Smith got into the wall during his qualifying run and will have to start the race from the back of the field after the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the car. Jeb Burton, Ryan Ellis, and Patrick Emerling will also start the race from the back of the field.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with William Sawalich alongside. Love gets out in front with Connor Zilisch on his bumper before dropping down to the inside to take the lead.
Austin Dillon in the 21 car brings out the first caution flag of the day on lap three after some contact with Ryan Sieg.
Ryan Sieg is reporting the engine is getting hot.
Jeb Burton reports that his car is still “wrecking loose”.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag restart with Jesse Love alongside on lap nine with Zilisch getting out in front for the lead.
The top five are Connor Zilisch, Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, William Sawalich, and Carson Kvapil.
Lap 13, Connor Zilisch has a lead of over half a second on Jesse Love; William Sawalich, Sam Mayer, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Lap 16, after starting in the back of the field, Taylor Gray has worked his way halfway through the field and is now in the top 20 at 19th.
Lap 20, Connor Zilisch has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Jesse Love; Sam Mayer, William Sawalich, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Lap 26 Ross Chastain has passed Carson Kvapil for fifth. Justin Allgaier has entered the top 10.
Lap 28, Connor Zilisch has a lead of over a second on Jesse Love and has begun to pass slower traffic.
Lap 32, there are 33 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 34, Connor Zilisch has a near second and a half lead on Jesse Love; Sam Mayer, William Sawalich, and Ross Chastain round out the top five. Taylor Gra is up to 15th.
Lap 40, there are now 31 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 44, Jesse Love has closed the gap on leader Connor Zilisch to under a second.
Lap 47, Connor Zilisch has a lead of over half a second on Jesse Love; Sam Mayer, Ross Chastain, and William Sawalich round out the top five with 28 cars on the lead lap.
The drivers have only four sets of tires for the race.
Ten laps remaining in stage one, Connor Zilisch has a lead of over a second on Jesse Love.
Five laps remain in stage one and Connor Zilisch continues to lead the race.
Ros Chastain passes Sam Mayer for third.
Connor Zilisch wins stage one after leading every lap for his fifth stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Connor Zilisch
Jesse Love
Ross Chastain
Sam Mayer
William Sawalich
Carson Kvapil
Carson Hocevar
Daniel Dye
Harrison Burton
Justin Allgaier
Ryan Ellis is the “lucky dog” to put 26 cars on the lead lap.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Jesse Love winning the race off of pit road with Connor Zilisch coming out second.
Sam Mayer overshoots his pit stall and has to back up before receiving service.
Connor Zilisch has to make a second trip down pit road with a loose left front wheel and returns to the race in 25th place.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 71 with Ross Chastain alongside. Love jumps out in front for the lead. Drivers are getting three wide across the track.
The top five are Jesse Love, Ross Chastain, William Sawalich, Brandon Jones, and Carson Hocevar.
Lap 74, Connor Zilisch has entered the top 20.
Lap 78, Ross Chastain is less than half a second behind leader Jesse Love; the remainder of the top five Brandon Jones, William Sawalich, and Carson Hocevar are over a second behind.
Lap 84, Ross Chastain battles with Jesse Love for the lead and takes the spot.
Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray pass Carson Hocevar.
Lap 88, Brandon Jones passes Jesse Love for second.
Lap 89, the top five are Ross Chastain, Brandon Jones, Jesse Love, William Sawalich, and Taylor Gray.
The caution flag comes out on lap 90 when Ryan Ellis spins out.
Connor Zilisch is just outside the top 15 in 16th place.
Several of the drivers come down pit road for service.
Taylor Gray reports a return of the brake shake issue he had during practice.
Jeremy Clements was caught speeding on pit road.
Dean Thompson was charged with too many crew members over the wall.
There are 26 cars on the lead lap.
Ross Chastain brings the field down for the green flag restart with Jesse Love alongside on lap 97. Chastain gets out in front with Brandon Jones taking second; Jesse Love, Taylor gray, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier make contact but the track stays green.
William Sawalich passes Taylor Gray for fourth.
Connor Zilisch has entered the top 15.
Lap 102, the top five are Ross Chastain, Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer, William Sawalich, and Taylor Gray.
Taylor Gray passes William Sawalich for fourth.
Lap 108, Connor Zilisch got slideways but saved the car and the track stays green.
Lap 110, Ross Chastain has pulled out to a near one second lead on Brandon Jones; Sam Mayer, Taylor Gray, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
Eight laps remain in stage two with Ross Chastain over a second out in front of Brandon Jones.
Ross Chastain wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ross Chastain
Brandon Jones
Taylor Gray
Sam Mayer
William Sawalich
Sheldon Creed
Jesse Love
Harrison burton
Carson Kvapil
Ryan Sieg
Ryan Ellis is the “lucky dog”.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Brandon Jones winning the race off of pit road with Ross Chastain coming out second.
Not all of the drivers made a pit stop Sammy Smith leading the race.
Brandon Jones was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 130 with Ros Chastain alongside. Ross Chastain takes the lead with Taylor Gray in second; Sammy Smith, Jesse Love, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Lap 136, Ross Chastain leads the race but Taylor Gray is running the fastest laps in the race. Chastain has a third of a second lead on Gray.
Dean Thompson gets loose and gets sideways to bring out the caution flag on lap 140.
A handful of drivers come down pit road for service but reports are that they are five or six laps short of making it to the end of the race.
Kyle Sieg is the “lucky dog” for 29 cars on the lead lap.
Ross Chastain brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 145 and holds on to the lead.
The otp five are Ross Chastain, Taylor Gray, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, and William Sawalich. Connor Zilisch is back in the top 10 in seventh place.
Lap 149, Connor Zilisch passes Harrison Burton for sixth place.
Lap 151, Connor Zilisch is now in the top five!
Lap 155, Ross Chastain holds a third of a second lead on Taylor Gray; Sammy Smith, Jesse Love, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five.
Lap 161, Connor Zilisch passes Jesse Love for fourth.
Lap 164, Connor Zilisch passes teammate Sammy Smith for third.
Lap 165, the top five are Ross Chastain, Taylor Gray, Connor Zilisch, Sammy Smith, and Jesse Love.
With 79 laps remaining in the race, Mason Massey is slowed on the track after getting into the wall. He makes his way to pit road and the track stays green.
Lap 176, Ross Chastain holds on to the lead of the race with Taylor Gray in second; Connor Zilisch, Sammy Smith, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Brandon Jones has moved up to 15th after having to restart the race from the back of the field with a speeding penalty.
Lap 184, Sam Mayer passes Jesse Love for fifth.
Lap 185, Sammy Smith makes his green flag pit stop.
After Sammy Smith made his pit stop, the top five are Ross Chastain, Taylor Gray, Connor Zilisch, Sam Mayer, and Jesse Love round out the top five with 62 laps remaining in the race.
Lap 195, Ross Chastain has led 107 laps so far.
Fifty to go! Ross Chastain holds on to a third of a second lead on Taylor Gray; Connor Zilisch, Sam Mayer, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out with 49 laps to go when Daniel Dye is stopped on the track after getting into the wall with a flat tire.
Drivers come down pit road for service with just 42 laps remaining in the race. Brandon Jones wins the race off of pit road after taking only two tires with Justin Allgaier in second.
Brandon Jones brings the field down for the green flag restart with Justin Allgaier alongside with just 38 laps remaining in the race. Justin Allgaier gets out in front but Jesse Love comes up on the inside to take the lead.
Justin Allgaier brings out the caution flag when he makes contact on the track with Connor Zilisch and gets turned sideways.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag restart with Sam Mayer alongside on lap 221. Love takes the lead with Sam Mayer in second.
Sam Mayer passes Jesse Love for the lead.
The caution flag comes out after Matt DiBenedetto gets into the wall with mechanical troubel and Brandon Jones gets into the wall.
There are reports of oil on the track.
Sam Mayer brings the field down for the green flag restart with Jesse Love alongside with just 17 laps remaining in the race. Mayer jumps out in front with a three way battle for second.
The top five are Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, Harrison Burton, Ross Chastain, and Carson Hocevar.
Dean Thompson comes down pit road with a flat tire after contact with Nick Sanchez.
Fourteen to go, Sam Mayer has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Jesse Love. Love and Harrison Burton are in a battle for second.
Connor Zilisch and Carson Hocevar battle for fifth.
Eight to go, Sam Mayer has a near two second lead on Jesse Love; Harrison Burton, Ross Chastain, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five.
Ross Chastain passes Harrison Burton for third.
Four to go, Sam Mayer leads the race with Jesse Love in second; Ross Chastain, Harrison Burton, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five.
Sam Mayer takes the white flag.
The caution flag comes out for a wreck involving Garrett Smithley.
Sam Mayer wins the race to give Ford and the Haas Factory Team their first win.
The unofficial results of the HeVee Perks 250:
Sam Mayer
Jesse Love
Ross Chastain
Connor Zilisch
Harrison Burton
Carson Hocevar
Sheldon Creed
Ryan Sieg
Carson Kvapil
Christian Eckes
William Sawalich
Justin Bonsignore
Parker Retzlaff
Austin Dillon
Sammy Smith
Justin Allgaier
Taylor Gray
Kyle Sieg
Nick Sanchez
Brennan Poole
Josh Bilicki
Jeremy Clements
Brandon Jones
Corey Day
Ryan Ellis
Anthony Alfredo
Joey Gase
Blaine Perkins
Jeb Burton
Patrick Emerling
Dean Thompson
Thomas Annunziata
Garrett Smithley
Tyler Tomassi
Matt DiBenedetto
Daniel Dye
Mason Massey
Dawson Cram