The Xfinity Series brings full load of drivers to battle it out in Daytona this weekend with some Friday night racing and the Wawa 250. There are 38 teams at the track including the JR Motorsports number 88 with Connor Zilisch behind the wheel. Zilisch has been cleared by medical professionals to drive the car and Parker Kligerman is standing by in case he needs to get out of the car.
In a recent interview, Zilisch said that things were rough the first couple of days after the surgery but, he feels much better now and is ready to get back in the car.
While in a weather delay, Connor Zilisch said that he will qualify the car…if they get to qualify and will most likely get out of the car at the first caution; adding that it wasn’t worth getting caught up in a crash and hurt again.
Josh Williams is back, driving for Alpha Prime Racing in the number 45 car.
There is no practice today, just a qualifying session under very cloudy skies.
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, eight of the 12 playoff spots are filled with drivers who have won at least one race.
At 3:50pm NASCAR has called the drivers to their cars for qualifying after multiple lightening delays.
The first person on the track to make a qualifying run is new mom Natalie Decker who posted a time of 50. 409 seconds around the 2.5 mile track.
With a time of 49,880 seconds, Matt DiBenedetto is the first driver to break the 50 second mark.
After 15 drivers have been on the track, the race was a gain delayed by lightening and NASCAR has cancelled qualifying. The lineup will be set the NASCAR’s metric.
The starting lineup for the Wawa 250:
Connor Zilisch
Sam Mayer
Sammy Smith
Austin Hill
Justin Allgaier
Carson Kvapil
Brandon Jones
Harrison Burton
Christian eckes
Jesse Love
Dean Thompson
Brennan Poole
Jeb Burton
Taylor Gray
Rajah Caruth
Jeremy Clements
Daniel Dye
Nick Sanchez
Parker Retzlaff
Josh Williams
Justin Haley
Ryan Sieg
Blaine Perkins
William Sawalich
Joey Gase
Mason Maggio
Sheldon Creed
Josh Bilicki
Aric Almirola
Kyle Sieg
Ryan Ellis
Anthony Alfredo
Matt DiBenedetto
Patrick Emerling
Leland Honeyman
Garrett Smithley
Caesar Bacarella
Natalie Decker
Stages one and two are 30 laps each with stage three lasting 40 laps for a total of 100 laps around the 2.5 mile track.
Just as NASCAR was about to give the command to start engines, lightening appeared within the eight mile limit and has been delayed for at least 30 minutes. If lightening strikes before the 30 minute time limit ends, the clock is reset to 30 minutes.
At 7:52pm NASCAR has called the drivers to their cars and will give the command just after 8pm.
Connor Zilisch has announced that he will drop to the back of the field. Sam Mayer brings the field down for the green flag start of the race under the lights. Sammy Smith moves up alongside Mayer on the front row. Sam and Sammy battle for the lead going into lap number two.
Sammy Smith edges out in front but Sam May takes the lead.
Lap three, the battle of the Sam’s continues with the two drivers continuing to swap the lead.
Lap four, the Sam’s continue their battle for the lead with drivers getting three wide back in the field.
Lap six, more drivers are getting three wide as Sam Mayer and Sammy Smith continue their battle for the lead.
Connor Zilisch has fallen back to the rear of the field; with that move he falls one point behind Justin Allgaier in the points lead. Zilisch was seven points ahead at race start.
Lapa nine, there is still no definite leader as Sam Mayer and Sammy Smith continue their battle for the lead.
Lap eleven, Austin Hill comes up on the outside to make it a three way battle for the lead.
The caution flag comes out on lap 12 for Harrison Burton who gets turned around and slides down the track after some on track contact from Matt DiBenedetto. He leaves a crush panel on the track. There is also reports of rain in the area.
Sam Mayer is listed as the leader.
Lap 13, Connor Zilisch brings the 88 car down pit road for the driver swap. The two drivers have run in the Rolex 24 Hours race and have made a number of driver changes. Parkere Kligerman is in the car and is on the track without losing a lap.
Harrison Burton went two laps down but due to the rain has earned the “lucky dog” and is just one lap down.
The top five are Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Carson Kvapil.
Parkere Retzlaff is on pit road with the hood up.
Out of the car, Connor Zilisch says he has confidence in Parker Kligerman adding that there is no one else he would want in the car.
Pit road is open and a few drivers come down for service and adjustments.
CW broadcasters report that one of the crush panels that flew from Harrison Burton’s car flew inside the car and hit Burton. It also damaged his radio button.
Parker Kligerman makes a second trip down pit road to top off the fuel.
Connor Zilisch will earn any points from the 88 car tonight, but if Parker Kligerman should earn stage points or go on to win the race, Zilisch would not get those points.
NASCAR has brought the cars down pit road and displayed the red flag but is keeping them in the car while they wait out the rain.
Jeb Burton reports a brake issue in his number 27 car.
Number 88 car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr said that it was always the plan for them to get Connor Zilisch out of the car early and not endanger his future as a driver. JRM drivers have won 13 races by six drivers this season.
The track driers are on the track as the sprinkles continue.
After an extended rain delay, the engines have been refired and the cars are moving once again.
Sam Mayer brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 23 with Sammy Smith alongside. Sammy Smith edges out for the lead after a continuation of the battle with Sam Mayer.
The top five are Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, and Brandon Jones.
Five laps remain in stage one and the battle for the lead between Sam Mayer and Sammy Smith continues.
With two laps remaining in stage one, Sam Mayer leads the race.
Sammy Smith wins stage one as drivers spread out three and four wide. Drivers got into a wreck as stage one ended.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Sammy Smith
Sam Mayer
Austin Hill
Matt DiBenedetto
Justin Allgaier
Brandon Jones
Christian Eckes
Anthony Alfredo
Jeb Burton
William Sawalich
Parker Kligerman finished stage one in 23rd place.
Carson Kvapil, Taylor Gray, Dean Thompson, Jeb Burton, Blaine Perkins, and Nick Sanchez were all involved in the crash.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Sam Mayer winning the race off of pit road but not all of the drivers made a pit stop.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Parkere Kligerman alongside on lap 35. Love gets out in front after a push from Sam Mayer.
Lap 36, Parker Kligerman takes the lead briefly before Jesse Love retakes the lead.
Lap 37, the top five are Jesse Love, Parker Kligerman, Sam Mayer, Christian Eckes, and Sammy Smith.
Lap 38, Parker Kligerman passes Jesse Love for the lead.
Lap 39, much of the field has gotten three wide.
Carson Kvapil brings his car down pit road for an unscheduled pit stop; possible flat tire.
Lap 40, Sammy Smith moves up on the outside to take the lead.
Lap 41, drivers are moving all through the field with Justin Haley taking the lead with Sammy Smith in second; Jeb Burton, Jesse Love and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Lap 45, drivers are three wide through the field with Justin Haley leading the way.
Jeb Burton and Jesse Love battle for second.
Lap 27, Jesse Love and Justin Haley battle for the lead.
Lap 50, halfway, the race is now official is the weather turns bad.
Parker Retzlaff is out of the race.
Lap 54, Jesse Love has the lead with Austin Hill in second; Sheldon Creed, Justin Allgaier, and Dean Thompson round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 58 for a wreck involving stage one winner Sammy Smith. William Sawalich, Aric Almirola, Brandon Jones, Dean Thompson, Jeb Burton, and Taylor Gray were also involved.
Justin Allgaier wins stage two under caution.
The top 10 at the end of stage two
Justin Allgaier
Jesse Love
Austin Hill
Christian Eckes
Sheldon Creed
Dean Thompson
Harrison Burton
Taylor Gray
Brandon Jones
Ryan Sieg
Drivers come down pit road for service with Austin Hill winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 66 with Jesse Love alongside. Hill gets out in front for the lead with Jesse Love in second; Ryan Sieg, Sheldon Creed, and Dean Thompson round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 67 when Anthony Alfredo is stopped on the track. He reports that the engine shut off.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag restart with Sheldon Creed alongside on lap 72. There are 35 cars on the lead lap. Sheldon Creed gets out in front but After a big push, Ryan Sieg takes the lead.
The top five are Ryan Sieg, Sheldon Creed, Austin Hill, Parker Kligerman, and Justin Allgaier.
Rajah Caruth spins out but gets the car moving again and the track stays green.
Sheldon Creed and Ryan Sieg battle back and forth for the lead.
Anthony Alfredo takes his car to the garage with a mechanical issue.
Just 25 laps remaining in the race with Sheldon Creed leading the race with Ryan Sieg continuing to battle for the lead.
Just 20 laps to go, Ryan Sieg has the lead with Sheldon Creed in second; Parker Kligerman, Justin Allgaier, and Austin Hill round out the top five.
Drivers are beginning to get three wide as the laps tick down.
Seventeen to go, Ryan Sieg leads the race with Parker Kligerman in second. Connor Zilisch has a streak of eleven top fives in a row in the 88 car.
Sixteen to go, Austin Hill moves up from the inside lane to take the lead but Ryan Sieg continues to battle for the lead.
Thirteen to go, Ryan Sieg has retaken the lead on the outside lane with Parkere Kligerman pushing.
The caution flag comes out on lap 89 for a crash involving Jeremy Clements, Caesar Bacarella, and Taylor Gray. Gray has a flat tire and drops down the track and wrecks Jeremy Clements. Bacarella makes a run through the grass.
Austin Hill reports that the air is not reacting like it’s supposed to.
Ryan Sieg brings the field down for the green flag restart with Parker Kligerman alongside and just six laps remaining in the race. Getting a push from teammate Justin Allgaier, Parker Kligerman takes the lead.
Drivers spread out three wide through the field. Sheldon Creed got below the yellow line but gets back in place.
The caution flag comes out for another wreck involving several drivers on lap 96. Ryan Sieg, Matt DiBenedetto, Jeb Burton, William Sawalich, Josh Williams, Christian Eckes, Daniel Dye, Ryan Ellis, Aric Almirola, Harrison Burton, and Leland Honeyman were all involved.
The race goes into overtime.
Parker Kligerman brings the field down for the overtime shootout to the end of the race with Austin Hill alongside. Kligerman takes the lead as drivers spread out through the field.
Parker Kligerman takes the white flag.
Big wreck on the rack to bring out the caution flag.
Parker Kligerman driving the 88 car for Connor Zilisch wins the race!!!
Attired in shorts and t-shirt, Connor Zilisch runs to congratulate Parker Kligerman for the win. Kligerman plants the flag in the grass but is snaps.
Saying that he didn’t want to step on the window sill, Parker came out of the roof hatch.
Kligerman is the seventh driver to win a race for JR Motorsports this season.
The unofficial results of the Wawa 250:
Parker Kligerman
Justin Allgaier
Sammy Smith
Sam Mayer
Jesse Love
Brandon Jones
Dean Thompson
Brennan Poole
Garrett Smithley
Ryan Ellis
Carson Kvapil
William Sawalich
Blaine Perkins
Patrick Emerling
Harrison Burton
Mason Maggio
Sheldon Creed
Josh Bilicki
Justin Haley
Jeb Burton
Joey Gase
Natalie Decker
Nick Sanchez
Aric Almirola
Austin Hill
Leland Honeyman
Kyle Sieg
Caesar Bacarella
Rajah Caruth
Taylor Gray
Ryan Sieg
Christian Eckes
Matt DiBenedetto
Josh Williams
Daniel Dye
Jeremy Clements
Anthony Alfredo
Parker Retzlaff