A home field for many of the drivers, Charlotte Motor Speedway brings out a full field of drivers. The second of a triple header weekend, the Xfinity Series has a packed field of 42 drivers for 38 starting spots.
The drivers will take on The Roval – the infield road course that also makes use of part of the mile and a half oval track, much like the road course at Daytona. The 2.2 mile course features 17 turns, elevations, tire barriers, and plenty of turtles to keep the drivers busy and alert as they run the Blue Cross NC 250.
The drivers have a full 50 minute practice session before making a qualifying run.
At the end of the race the 12 playoff drivers will become eight as the first round of the playoffs comes to a close.
After running the truck race on Friday afternoon Connor Mosack, Daniel Hemric, Josh Bilicki, and Connor Zilisch return to run in the Xfinity race.
Less than five minutes into practice, Connor Zilisch tops the leaderboard with sub 87 second laps.
A major milestone…reigning champion Justin Allgaier makes race start 500 today at the track where it all started.
The drivers have two sets of tires for practice.
Sammy Smith reports that something doesn’t feel right in his car but the crew believes it is only a flat spotting of the tires.
Newlywed Harrison Burton is reporting some possible fuel or engine issues. Burton got married during the week. He even has “just married” on the back of his car.
Dean Thompson is in the garage with his car up on jacks with the crew making a transmission change.
Daneil Hemric is in the garage with the crew trying to diagnose the problem with the car.
Daniel Dye broke an axle in a wheel hop over a turtle and is in the garage with the crew making repairs.
Harrison Burton’s crew plans to make a fuel pump change after qualifying. With the change he will have to start the race from the back of the field.
Sammy Smith is on pit road with the hood up while the crew tries to diagnose the issues Smith reported about the car.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in practice, the drivers are beginning to make mock qualifying runs.
All of the top five drivers on the leaderboard are from JR Motorsports.
For qualifying, the drivers have been divided into two groups for a 20 minute group qualifying session.
The caution flag comes out when Andrew Patterson has a major tire and suspension issue. A right front tire rod has broken. Crews are frantically working to get the car repaired so that Anderson can make a qualifying run. Four drivers will be going home.
With a time of 85.054 seconds, Connor Zilisch sits on the pole with teammate Justin Allgaier alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Blue Cross NC 250:
Connor Zilisch
Justin Allgaier
Connor Mosack
Sammy Smith
Carson Kvapil
Corey Day
Sam Mayer
Jesse Love
Kaz Grala
Austin Green
Aric Almirola
Brennan Poole
Sheldon Creed
Nick Sanchez
William Sawalich
Austin Hill
Taylor Gray
Christian Eckes
Preston Pardus
Matt DiBenedetto
Alex Labbe
Ryan Sieg
Brandon Jones
Josh Bilicki
Sage Karam
Parker Retzlaff
Daniel Hemric
Harrison Burton
Ryan Ellis
Jeb Burton
Leland Honeyman
Josh Williams
Dean Thompson
Anthony Alfredo
Blaine Perkins
Jeremy Clements
Kyle Sieg
Daneil Dye
Garrett Smithley, Andrew Patterson Austin J Hill, and Thomas Annunziata failed to qualify for the race.
Stages one and two are just 20 laps each with stage three lasting 27 laps for a total of 67 laps around the 2.28mile course.
Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, and Brandon Jones know they are safe when four drivers are eliminated from the playoffs at the end of the race after earning enough points.
While the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway is lit, there are no lights on the infield road course. NASCAR has brought in some temporary lighting the infield. The race is beginning in daylight but it will end after the sun has set.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with teammate Justin Allgaier alongside. The top five drivers are all from JR Motorsports for the first time in NASCAR history. Zilisch edges out to take the lead but Allgaier isn’t going to sit back and let the young teammate have his way.
The field made it through the first lap in one piece.
Lap two, the top five are Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, Connor Mosack, and Corey Day.
Anthony Alfredo has some damage to his car after getting lose after on track contact.
Corey Day’s car is smoking with a tire rub after getting into the wall.
Daniel Dye is on pit road after contact with Anthony Alfredo.
Lap three, Connor Zilisch has pulled out to a second and a half lead on Justin Allgaier; Sammy Smith, Connor Mosack, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Lap seven, Connor Zilisch continues to increase his lead and is now over two and a half seconds out in front of Justin Allgaier.
Lap nine, Connor Mosack passes Sammy Smith for third.
Lap 10, Connor Zilisch is leaving the field behind; he has a lead of over four seconds in front of Justin Allgaier.
Preston Pardus is in the garage with mechanical issues.
Sam Mayer passes Jesse Love for fifth.
Lap 12 Connor Zilisch is running away with the race; he now has a lead of nearly seven and a half seconds on Justin Allgaier; Connor Mosack, Sammy Smith, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Harrison Burton’s fuel issues have returned even after the crew changed the fuel pump before the race.
With seven laps remaining in stage one, Connor Zilisch continues to increase his lead with a nine second lead.
Harrison Burton is trying to get off the track and brings out the first caution flag of the race so that track workers can assist Burton. The caution flag erased a near 10 second lead by Connor Zilisch.
Nearly everyone in the field comes down pit road for service with Justin Allgaier winning the race off of pit road; followed by Connor Zilisch. Only five drivers stayed out on the track.
The 88 crew is checking the video on whether or not all of the lug nuts were tight.
Nick Sanchez brings the field down for the green flag restart with Matt DiBenedetto alongside with just three laps remaining in stage one. Nick Sanchez leads the race with Jeb Burton in second; Connor Zilisch, Jesse Love, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Drivers are getting three wide across the track.
Connor Zilisch takes the lead with Nick Sanchez in second.
Jesse Love passes Nick Sanchez for second.
Justin Allgaier passes Nick Sanchez for third.
Sam Mayer had to serve a stop and go penalty for missing the chicane.
Justin Allgaier battles with Jesse Love for second.
Connor Zilisch wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Connor Zilisch
Jesse Love
Justin Allgaier
Sammy Smith
Carson Kvapil
Austin Hill
Nick Sanchez
Aric Almirola
Sheldon Creed
Connor Mosack
Josh Williams takes his car to the garage with mechanical issues.
Harrison Burton returns to the track five laps down.
Drivers who did not pit during the caution come down pit road for service.
The race is starting later than it has in the past and the sun is causing some serious vision issues for the drivers.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Jesse Love alongside on lap 25. Zilisch jumps out in front for the lead.
The top five are Connor Zilisch, Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, and Carson Kvapil.
Connor Zilisch has a lead of over a second on Jesse Love.
Back on the track laps down, Josh Williams is stopped on the track and brings out the third caution flag of the race.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag restart with Jesse Love alongside on lap 30. Zilisch jumps out in front to hold on to the lead.
Drivers are getting three wide in turn seven. There is a smoking car from a tire rub after some on track contact.
Lap 31, the top five are Connor Zilisch, Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, Austin Hill, and Justin Allgaier.
Preston Pardus is out of the race with a transmission issue.
Lap 32, Connor Zilisch has a three second lead on Jesse Love; Sammy Smith, Austin Hill, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Lap 33, Connor Zilisch continues to pull away from the field and now has a lead of over four seconds on second place driver Jesse Love.
Josh Williams is out of the race with a fuel pump issue.
Lap 35, Connor Zilisch continues to pull away from the field and has a six second lead on Jesse Love; Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, and Austin Hill round out the top five.
With three laps remaining in stage two, drivers are making green flag pit stops.
Daniel Hemric was caught speeding on pit road. Nick Sanchez was charged with leaving pit road with equipment.
Connor Zilisch gives up a seven second lead to make his green flag pit stop. Jesse Love is the new leader.
Jesse Love wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Jesse Love
Sammy Smith
Austin Hill
Sheldon Creed
Carson Kvapil
Sam Mayer
Alex Labbe
Josh Bilicki
Sage Karam
Connor Zilisch
Drivers come down pit road for service and is very busy. Jesse Love wins the race off of pit road.
Sam Mayer will have to restart the race from the back of the field after a crew member came over the wall too soon.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Justin Allgaier alongside on lap 45. Zilisch is quickly out in front for the lead with Justin Allgaier in second; Connor Mosack, Christian Eckes, and Austin Green round out the top five.
Connor Zilisch has already pulled out to a lead of a second.
Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.
Austin Hill has gained seven spots since the restart but is still four points below the cut line.
Lap 47, Connor Zilisch has a lead of two and a half seconds on teammate Justin Allgaier; Connor Mosack, Christian Eckes, and Austin Green round out the top five.
Corey Day is stopped on the track but gets going again and the track stays green. William Sawalich has a smoking car with a tire rub after some on track contact. Sammy Smith was also involved.
Lap 50, Connor Zilisch has a near four second lead on Justin Allgaier; Connor Mosack, Christian Eckes, and Austin Green round out the top five.
Austin Hill is having issues with his car and is now in 10th place.
With 14 laps remaining in the race, Connor Zilisch has a lead of over five seconds on Justin Allgaier; Connor Mosack, Christian Eckes, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.
With eleven laps remaining in the race, Austin Hill has fallen to 18th place.
Nick Sanchez makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with a flat tire.
Ten to go, Connor Zilisch now has a lead of over six seconds on Justin Allgaier.
Just seven laps remaining in the race, Connor Zilisch has a seven second lead on Justin Allgaier; Connor Mosack, Austin Green, and Christian Eckes round out the top five.
With six laps remaining in the race, Connor Mosack makes an unscheduled trip down pit road and heads to the garage with an engine issue.
Sheldon Ceed passes Christian Eckes for fifth with four to go.
Sammy Smith comes down pit road with tire issues.
The caution flag comes out with just four laps to go when Sage Karam has a blown tire that comes apart.
The race goes into overtime.
Several drivers come down pit road for service but leader Connor Zilisch stays out on the track. Justin Allgaier wins the race off of pit road.
Austin Hil is on pit road with the hood up.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the overtime shootout to the end of the race with Austin Green alongside. Zilisch edges out for the lead as Kaz Grala looks to make it a three wide battle.
The top five are Connor Zilisch, Austin Green, Kaz Grala, Sammy Smith, and Jeb Burton.
Alex Labbe and Brennan Poole get turned around but the track stays green.
Connor Zilisch takes the white flag.
Connor Zilisch wins the race under caution. Connor Zilisch sets a new single season win record with 10 wins for the first time in NASCAR history.
The unofficial results for the Blue Cross NC 250:
Connor Zilisch
Austin Green
Sammy Smith
Kaz Grala
Connor Mosack
Jeb Burton
William Sawalich
Justin Allgaier
Nick Sanchez
Christian Eckes
Sheldon Creed
Taylor Gray
Jesse Love
Aric Almirola
Carson Jvapil
Parker Retzlaff
Daniel Hemric
Brandon Jones
Sam Mayer
Ryan Sieg
Josh Bilicki
Corey Day
Anthony Alfredo
Ryan Ellis
Sage Karam
Leland Honeyman
Jeremy Clements
Austin Hill
Blaine Perkins
Alex Labbe
Brennan Poole
Matt DiBenedetto
Kyle Sieg
Harrison Burton
Dean Thompson
Daniel Dye
Josh Williams
Preston Pardus
Harrison Burton, Austin Hill, Nick Sanchez, and Taylor Gray have been eliminated from the playoffs.
Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, Sheldon Creed, Carson Kvapil, and Sammy Smith by one point moves on to the round of eight.