The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series takes to the track for a full 50 minute practice session before making a qualifying run under cloud laden skies for the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 Presented by Black’s Tire
Drivers get out on the track quickly to make as many laps on the track as possible before any rain halts the session.
NASCAR has put out the red flag for some fluid on the track from JJ Yeley’s car…not the sky.
Cleetus McFarland is making his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut.
Thirty-eight teams brought cars to Rockingham for 38 starting spots.
With 34 minutes remaining in practice, NASCAR puts out the red flag for rain. Jesse Love topped the leaderboard when the rain started.
Brent Crews turned 18 earlier this week and is now qualified to run full time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts series on all tracks.
The skies have dried up and the cars are moving again. NASCAR has added some time to practice to allow for the down time.
NASCARA stops the race for a second time due to the rain. Austin Hill topped the leaderboard when the red flag came out.
After a short delay, the drivers are moving again with just over 13 minutes remaining in practice.
AM Racing did not bring a car to Rockingham for the race.
The Sieg brothers top the leaderboard when practice ends with little brother Kyle in front of Ryan.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Cleetus McFarland who posted a time of 23.978 seconds.
With a time of 22.967 seconds, Harrison Burton is the first driver to break the 23 second mark.
After hitting the wall during practice, Garrett Smithley will not make a qualifying run.
Postin a time of 22.717 seconds, Corey Day puts his number 17 car on the pole with Jesse Love alongside.
The starting lineup for the North Carolina Education Lottery 250:
Corey Day
Jesse Love
Parker Retzlaff
Justin Allgaier
Carson Kvapil
Taylor Gray
Sam Mayer
Brandon Jones
Sheldon Creed
Brent Crews
Austin Hill
Ryan Sieg
Rajah Caruth
William Sawalich
Anthony Alfredo
Harrison Burton
Jeremy Clements
Dean Thompson
Sammy Smith
Lavar Scott
Kyle Sieg
Patrick Staropoli
Austin Green
Brennan Poole
Josh Williams
Nathan Byrd
Blaine Perkins
JJ Yeley
Jeb Burton
Andrew Patterson
Ryan Ellis
Josh Bilicki
Dawson Cram
Cleetus McFarland
Joey Gase
Blake Lothian
Garrett Smithley
Stages one and two are 60 laps each with stage three lasting 130 laps for a total of 250 laps around the one mile track.
Making his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut, Cleetus McFarland finished fourth in the ARCA Menards Series race earlier.
Kyle Petty called Rockingham, “Bristol on steroids.”
Corey Day brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane with Jesse Love alongside. Day jumps out in front for the lead.
Parker Retzlaff gets loose and gets into Justin Allgaier but the track stays gree and Allgaier takes third.
Lap three, the top five are Corey Day, Jesse Love, Justin Allgaier, Taylor Gray, and Carson Kvapil. Parker Retzlaff is in sixth place.
Cleetus McFarland is off the pace but still moving after a three wide battle. He noted before the race that his goal was to finish the race…and not finish last.
Lap seven, Corey Day has a lead of over half a second on Jesse Love; Justin Allgaier, Taylor Gray, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Lap 13, Corey Day is slowly increasing his lead on Jesse Love and is now three-quarters of a second out in front. Justin Allgaier is two seconds back in third place; Taylor Gray, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Lap 20, Carson Kvapil passes Taylor Gray for fourth.
Lap 22, Taylor Gray comes up to battle Carson Kvapil for fourth.
Lap 26, Corey Day has already begun passing slower traffic; there are 34 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 30, teammates Carson Kvapil and Justin Allgaier battle to third.
Lap 32 has pulled out to a two second lead on Jesse Love; Justin Allgaier, Carson Kvapil, and Taylor Gray round out the top five.
Lap 35, Corey Day continues to catch and lap slower traffic; there are now 33 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 40, Corey Day’s lead is now under two seconds. Taylor Gray passes Carson Kvapil for fourth.
Lap 41, Justin Allgaier passes Jesse Love for second; a second and a half behind leader Corey Day.
Drivers are getting three wide as they battle for position.
Two of the top five are JR Motorsports drivers; with all four of the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers in the top 10.
Lap 47, Justin Allgaier is slowing closing the gap on leader Corey Day who is now less than one second out in front.
The caution flag comes out when Blake Lothian spins out and goes sideways down the track. He just misses hitting Cleetus McFarland as Lothian comes down the track.
Drivers come down pit road for service and will most likely flip the stage. Jesse Love wins the race off of pit road. Justin Allgaier reports that he is too free.
Not all of the drivers made a pit stop; Taylor Gray is now the leader of the race with Anthony Alfredo, Sammy Smith, Kyle Sieg, and Jesse Love rounding out the top five.
With just six laps remaining in stage one, Taylor Gray brings the field down for the green flag restart. Gray holds on to the lead.
Taylor Gray, Corey Day, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
With four laps to go, Corey Day battles with Taylor Gray for the lead.
Three to go, Corey Day retakes the lead.
Restarting the race in seventh, Justin Allgaier is now in fourth place.
Corey Day wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Corey Day
Taylor Gray
Brandon Jones
Justin Allgaier
William Sawalich
Jesse Love
Sammy Smith
Rajah Caruth
Brent Crews
Parker Retzlaff
Drivers who did not stop during the caution flag come down pit road for service.
Sam Mayer is having some engine issues and the crew had to change the ignition box.
Corey Day brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two from the inside lane with Brandon Jones alongside on lap 70. Day gets out in front for the lead.
The top five are Corey Day, Brandon Jones, William Sawalich, Brent Crews, and Jusitn Allgaier.
Jesse Love taps the wall for a second time and came down to bump Rajah Caruth. The two had some on track issues last week at Darlington.
Lap 75, Corey Day has a near half second lead on Brandon Jones; William Sawalich, Brent Crews, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Lap 78, Dean Thompson makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with a flat tire.
Lap 81, there are 26 cars on the lead lap with all 38 drivers still in the race.
Lap 83, Corey Day has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Brandon Jones; William Sawalich, Brent Crews, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Lap 94, Jeremy Clements spins out to bring out the caution flag but kept the car off the wall.
A few of the drivers come down pit road for service but the leaders stay out on the track.
Corey Day brings the field down for the green flag restart with Brandon Jones alongside on lap 99. Day holds on to the lead with Brandon Jones and William Sawalich in a battle for second.
The top five are Corey Day, Brandon Jones, William Sawalich, Brent Crews, and Justin Allgaier.
Lap 104, Corey Day has a lead of over half a second on Brandon Jones.
William Sawalich passes Brandon Jones for second.
Brent Crews passes Brandon Jones for third.
Lap 108, the top five are Corey Day, William Sawalich, Brent Crews, Brandon Jones, and Justin Allgaier.
Two of the top five drivers are still in their teens – William Sawalich and Brent Crews who just celebrated his 18th birthday.
With 10 laps remaining in stage two, Justin Allgaier battles Brandon Jones for fourth and gets the spot.
Six laps to go in stage two, Corey Day has a lead of over half a second on William Sawalich.
Carson Kvapil is reporting a brake issue in his car.
Justin Allgaier has passed Brent Crews for third.
Corey Day wins stage two for the stage sweep.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Corey Day
William Sawalich
Justin Allgaier
Brent Crews
Brandon Jones
Rajah Caruth
Parker Retzlaff
Sheldon Creed
Jeremy Clements
Carson Kvapil
Drivers come down pit road for service with Ryan Sieg winning the race off of pit road.
Jesse Love stayed out on the track and leads the race.
Corey Day dropped to seventh after the tire carrier tripped over the feet of the tire changer.
Josh Bilicki and Jeremy Clements were caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the longest line.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with 121 laps remaining in the race with Ryan Sieg alongside after taking fuel only. Jesse Love gets out for the lead.
The top five are Jesse Love, Brent Crews, Ryan Sieg, Justin Allgaier, and William Sawalich.
With 116 laps to go, Jesse Love has a lead of less than half a second on Brent Crews; Justin Allgaier, William Sawalich, and Ryan Sieg rounding out the top five.
With over 100 laps in stage three, the drivers will have to make a pit stop during the stage to make it to the end of the race.
With 109 laps to go, Brent Crews passes Jesse Love for the lead; Justin Allgaier takes second.
Jesse Love reports a possible vibration in his brakes.
With 106 laps to go, Brent Crews has a one second lead on Justin Allgaier; William Sawalich, Rajah Caruth, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
With 98 laps to go, Jesse Love comes down pit road for service after staying out at the end of stage two. Love had a loose tire that was causing a vibration.
With 93 laps to go, Brent Crews has a lead of a second and a half on Justin Allgaier; William Sawalich, Rajah Caruth, and Brandon Jones round out the top five.
Corey Day and Carson Kvapil battle back and forth for seventh place.
With 86 laps to go, Brent Crews has pulled out to a three second lead on Justin Allgaier.
Anthony Alfredo brings out the caution flag when he sping out with a flat tire. The blown tire is tearing up the front end of the car.
The caution flag came out right about the time the drivers are in their pit window to make it to the end of the race.
Pit road is very busy as the field comes down for service with Brent Crews winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires with over 80 laps remaining in the race. Justin Allgaier comes out second.
Brent Crews brings the field down for the green flag restart with Justin Allgaier alongside with 79 laps remaining in the race. William Sawalich comes up one the inside to take the lead in a battle of the teenagers..
Ryan Sieg makes contact with Jeremy Clements and send Clements into the wall. He avoided hitting any other cars as he came down the track. Clements takes his carto the garage but returns to the track.
Corey Day came down pit road with a lug nut issue and is now good on fuel…even for an overtime finish.
Back on the track, Jeremy Clements pulls off of pit road while the crew is still applying the 200mph tape.
William Sawalich brings the field down for the green flag restart with Brent Crews alongside with 71 laps to go. Sawalich holds on to the lead with Brent Crews in second.
Seventy to go, the top five are William Sawalich, Brent Crews, Brandon Jones, Sheldon Creed, and Justin Allgaier.
Less than two laps, William Sawalich has pulled out to a near one second lead on Brent Crews.
Just 63 laps to go, William Sawalich has a lead of over a second on Brent Crews; Brandon Jones, Sheldon Creed, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Sheldon Creed passes Brandon Jones for fourth.
Rajah Caruth and Ryan Sieg battle for 10th in a multi-lap battle.
Just 49 laps remain in the race, William Sawalich has a lead of over a second on Brent Crews; Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out with 44 laps to go when Cleetus McFarland spins out but kept the car off the wall.
With limited sets of tires, the drivers are now out of sticker tires for the remainder of the race.
William Sawalich brings the field down for the green flag restart with Brent Crews alongside with just 38 laps remaining in the race. Sawalich takes the lead with Crews in second; Brandon Jones, Sheldon Creed, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Sheldon Creed passes Brandon Jones for third,
Drivers are checking up all through the field as they battle for position.
Austin Green gets into the wall and has to come down pit road.
Brandon Jones and Sheldon Creed pass Brent Crews.
Brent Crews reports that he may have a tires going down.
Justin Allgaier passes Brent Crews for fourth.
With 30 to go, William Sawalich has a two second lead on Brandon Jones; Sheldon Creed, Justin Allgaier, and Taylor Gray round out the top five.
Brent Crews is off the pace and works his way to pit road.
Carson Kvapil passes Taylor Gray for fifth.
With 27 to go, Sheldon Creed and Justin Allgaier battle for third.
Twenty-four to go, Justin Allgaier passes Sheldon Creed for third.
The top five are William Sawalich, Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, and Carson Kvapil.
Twenty to go, Brandon Jones has closed the gap to leader William Sawalich to just a second and a half; Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Another spin for Cleetus McFarland but the track stays green.
Fourteen to go, William Sawalich holds on to a lead of less than two seconds on teammate Brandon Jones; Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
With just eight laps to go, Rajah Caruth comes up on the inside with Carson Kvapil on the outside and Sheldon Creed in the middle wit the two JR Motorsports drivers passing Creed for fourth and fifth place.
Five to go, Brandon Jones has closed the gap on lead William Sawalich to just one second.
William Sawalich takes the white flag.
William Sawalich wins at Rockingham for his first O’Reilly Series career win.
The unofficial results of the North Carolina Education Lottery 250:
William Sawalich
Brandon Jones
Justin Allgaier
Rajah Caruth
Carson Kvapil
Sheldon Creed
Taylor Gray
Parker Retzlaff
Ryan Sieg
Corey Day
Austin Hill
Sammy Smith
Harrison Burton
Brennan Poole
Lavar Scott
Nathan Byrd
Jeb Burton
Alex Labbe
Josh Williams
JJ Yeley
Andrew Patterson
Ryan Ellis
Blaine Perkins
Anthony Alfredo
Jeremy Clements
Brent Crews
Jesse Love
Dean Thompson
Garrett Smithley
Blake Lothian
Joey Gase
Cleetus McFarland
Austin Green
Patrick Staropoli
Dawson Cram
Josh Bilicki
Kyle Sieg
Sam Mayer
Cleetus achieved his goals – he finished the race (six laps down) and he wasn’t last (32nd).