The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series prepares for some Saturday night racing in the Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 with a practice session and qualifying round.
Thirty-eight teams brought cars to Nashville Superspeedway for 38 starting spots. Kyle Larson is driving the number 88 car this week.
But, once again, the rains are holding up the process. Blue skies can be seen outside the track and the track drying process has begun.
Points leader Justin Allgaier is the defending champion of the race at Nashville last year.
NASCAR has cancelled qualifying in order to give the drivers some practice time. The lineup will be set by the NASCAR rule book.
The track has been dried and the drivers will get a full 50 minute practice session.
Cleetus McFarland makes a return to NASCAR and joins the filed for the O’Reilly Series race in Nashville.
JR Motorsports driver Carson Kvapil not only topped the single lap times in practice; he also topped the list in multiple lap times.
The starting lineup for the Sports Illustrated Resorts 250:
Jesse Love
Austin Hill
Corey Day
Carson Kvapil
William Sawalich
Kyle Larson
Ryan Sieg
Sammy Smith
Parker Retzlaff
Garrett Smithley
Mason Maggio
Anthony Aflredo
Dean Thompson
Austin Green
Leland Honeyman
Patrick Staropoli
Justin Allgaier
Lavar Scott
Jeb Burton
Kyle Sieg
Blaine Perkins
David Starr
Brennan Poole
Sheldon Creed
Rajah Caruth
Ryan Ellis
Taylor Gray
Josh Bilicki
Brandon Jones
Joey Gase
Jeremy Clements
Logan Bearden
Brent Crews
Sam Mayer
Harrison Burton
Dawson Cram
JJ Yeley
Cleetus McFarland
Stages one and two are 45 laps each with stage three lasting 98 laps for a total of 188 laps around the 1.33 mile concrete track.
Part of the pre-race festivities included a skydiver carrying a flag with a tribute to Kyle Busch with his number eight.
Connor Zilisch joins Adam Alexander and Parker Kligerman in the broadcast booth for the race.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Austin Hill alongside. The RCR teammates go side by side into turn one before Jesse Love takes the lead.
Austin Hill and Corey Day battle for second.
Lap three, the top five are Jesse Love, Corey Day, Austin Hill, Carson Kvapil, and William Sawalich.
Lap four, after starting in 17th, Justin Allgaier has entered the top 10.
Lap six, Sheldon Creed has moved up 13 spots since the start of the race.
Lap seven, Justin Allgaier is working his way through the field, now in eighth place.
Lap eight, a lap of silence in memory of Kyle Busch.
Lap nine, Jesse Love has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second and a half on Corey Day; Austin Hill, Carson Kvapil, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
Lap 10, Jesse Love has increased his lead to over a second and a half on Corey Day.
Lap 14, Jesse Love continues to increase his lead on the field and is now two and a half seconds out in front of Corey Day; Austin Hill, Carson Kvapil, and William Sawalich continue to round out the top five.
Lap 18, Carson Kvapil passes Austin Hill for third.
Lap 19, Jesse Love now has a lead of over three seconds on Corey Day.
Lap 22, Kyle Larson passes William Sawalich for fifth. Justin Allgaier is now in seventh.
Lap 23, Jesse Love has a four second lead on Corey Day; Austin Hill, Carson Kvapil, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap 25, Justin Allgaier passes William Sawalich for sixth; about three tenths of a second behind fifth place driver Kyle Larson.
Lap 28, Jesse Love holds a lead of over four seconds and has begun lapping slower cars.
Lap 31, Jesse Love has a four and a half second lead on Corey Day; Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Kye Larson round out the top five.
There is a lot of movement throughout the field.
Lap 35, Justin Allgaier is running some of the fastest laps on the track.
Ten laps remain in stage one, Jesse Love has a lead of over five seconds on Corey Day; Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap 37, Justin Allgaier passes Austin Hill for third.
Jesse Love’s lead is now over six seconds on the field.
Five laps remain in stage one with Jesse Love “driving it like he stole it” over six laps ahead.
Mike Dillon – the father of Cup Series drivers Austin and Ty Dillon – is spotting for Cleetus McFarland who is fighting to stay on the lead lap 29th.
Jesse Love passes teammate Cleetus McFarland with two laps to go in stage one.
Cleetus McFarland spins out to bring out the caution flag. Stage one ends in a caution.
Jesse Love wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Jesse Love
Corey Day
Justin Allgaier
Austin Hill
Kyle Larson
Carson Kvapil
William Sawalich
Ryan Sieg
Sammy Smith
Brent Crews
Drivers come down pit road for service with Jesse Love winning the race off of pit road with Justin Allgaier coming out second.
Dawson Cram was caught speeding on pit road.
Taylor Gray had a lug nut stuck in the tire.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Justin Allgaier alongside on lap 54. Drivers spread out three and four wide with Jesse Love getting out in front of Justin Allgaier.
Lap 55, Justin Allgaier passes Jesse Love for the lead.
The top five are Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, Carson Kvapill, Corey Day, and William Sawallich.
Kyle Larson go lose in a three wide battle but saved the car and the track stays green.
There are three widie battles all through the field.
Lap 60, Justin Allgaier has a half second lead on Jesse Love; Carson Kvapil, Corey Day, and William Sawallich round out the top five.
Corey Day reports that he has smoke coming in his cockpit.
JJ Yeley has taken his car to the garage with a mechanical issue and is out of the race.
Lap 65, William Sawalich has passed Corey Day for fourth. Justin Allgaier has a half second lead on Jesse Love.
Due to his tire issue, NASCAR gave Taylor Gray an additional left front tire.
Lap 72, Justin Allgaier’s lead on Jesse Love has closed to just two tenths of a second; Carson Kvapil, William Sawalich, and Brent Crews round out the top five.
Lap 75, Jesse Love passes Justin Allgaier to retake the lead.
Lap 78, Jesse Love leads the race but this time he isn’t running away from Justin Allgaier; Carson Kvapil, William Sawalich, and Brent Crews round out the top five.
Lap 82, Justin Allgaier begins to challenge Jesse Love for the lead.
Lap 83, leads have encountered heavy traffic.
With six laps remaining in stage two, Justin Allgaier retakes the lead.
Five to go in stage two, Jesse Love passes for the lead.
Four laps remain in stage two and Justin Allgaier retakes the lead as Jesse Love and Allgaier continue their battle for the lead.
One to go, Jesse Love and Justin Allgaier battle side by side for the lead.
Justin Allgaier wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Justin Allgaier
Jesse Love
Carson Kvapil
William Sawalich
Brent Crews
Corey Day
Sam Mayer
Parker Retzlaff
Kyle Larson
Ryan Sieg
Drivers come down pit road for service with Jesse Love winning the race off of pit road. Justin Allgaier had a slow stop and comes off pit road in fifth.
Jeb Burton was charged with interference 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 Carson Kvapil alongside on lap 100. Drivers spread out three and four wide. Jesse Love takes the lead with Justin Allgiaer in second.
The top five are JesseLove, Justin Allgaier, Brent Crews, Carson Kvapil, and Corey Day.
Kyle Larson got slideways in the corner and saved the car; the track stays green.
Lap 103, Brent Crews battles with Justin Allgaier for second. Jesse Love has a sone second lead on the field.
Lap 105, Jesse Love has a lead of nearly a second and a half on Justin Allgaier; Brent Crews, Corey Day, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
Lap 109, Brent Crews finally gets around Justin Allgaier for second.
Justin Allgaier has some radio issues.
With a stage length of 98 laps, the drivers will have to make a pit stop during the stage.
Jesse Love is having some tire issues – possible stud issues.
Lap 114, Jesse Love has just a half second lead on Brent Crews; Justin Allgaier, Corey Day, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
With 71 laps remaining in the race, Brent Crews has caught leader Jesse Love and challenging for the lead.
With 70 laps to go, Brent Crews passes Jesse Love for the lead and pulls away.
Lap 122, Jesse Love comes down pit road for service and adding spacers. He has a slow stop. He returns to the race in 29th, one lap down.
The top five are Brent Crews, Justin Allgaier, Corey Day, William Sawalich, and Sam Mayer.
Lap 124, Brent Crews has pulled out to a two and a half second lead on Justin Allgaier.
Sammy Smith and Parker Retzlaff battle for ninth.
Lap 129, Brent Crews has pulled out to a near three second lead on Justina Allgaier; Corey Day, William Sawalich, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Therea re 27 cars on the lead lap.
With 53 laps to go, Brent Crews has a three second lead on Justin Allgaier; Corey Day, William Sawalich, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
Lap 140, Brent Crews has increased his lead to nearly four seconds on Justin Allgaier.
Justin Allgaier’s radio issues have been resolved.
Lap 143, Sammy Smith is the first driver to begin the cycle of green flag pit stops.
Lap 146, Justin Allgaier comes down pit road for his green flag pit stop.
Brent Crews gives up the lead to make his pit stop. Austin Hill is the new leader.
Lap 149, Austin Hill makes his pit stop; Ryan Sieg is the new leader.
Lap 150, the top four drivers have yet to make their pit stops.
Ryan Sieg makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Partrick Staropoli – the last driver to need a pit stop.
Lap 151, Brent Crews retakes the lead with Justin Allgaier two seconds back in second; William Sawalich, corey Day, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.
David Starr was charged with speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.
With just 31 laps remaining in the race, Justin Allgaier has closed the gap on leader Brent Crews and is now less than a second back.
Cleetus McFarland was charged with a penalty and will have to serve a passthrough down pit road.
Cleetus McFarland will have to serve a second pass through penalty for a commitment cone violation.
Just 24 laps remain in the race with Bren Crews less than a second in front of Justin Allgaier; William Sawalich, Sam Mayer, and Corey Day round out the top five.
David Starr takes his car to the garage with mechanical issues.
Twenty to go, Justin Allgaier has caught leader Brent Crews and battles for the lead and after four laps of back and forth, Allgaier finally gets out in front and pulls away.
Fifteen to go, Justin Allgaier has a half second lead on Brent Crews; William Sawalich, Sam Mayer, and Corey Day round out the top five.
Twelve laps to go, Justin Allgaier has a lead of over half a second on Brent Crews. After running the race tonight, he will be running a triathlon Sunday. He turns 40 next weekend.
Ten to go! Justin Allgaier continues to lead the race with Brent Crews nearly a second back.
Seven to go, Justin Allgaier has a one second lead on Brent Crews.
Five to go, Justin Allgaier continues to lead. Daughter Willow had a birthday last week and wanted a trophy from Charlotte; looks like she may get her wish a week late.
Three to go, Justin Allgaier has a near second and a half lead.
Justin Allgaier takes the white flag.
Justin Allgaier wins his fourth race of the season and his third guitar!
After an impressive burnout, Allgaier comes out the roof of the car and gives a bow. He noted it has been a tough couple of weeks.
The unofficial results of the Sports Illustrated Resorts 250:
Justin Allgaier
Brent Crews
William Sawalich
Sam Mayer
Corey Day
Carson Kvapil
Kyle Larson
Taylor Gray
Sammy Smith
Austin Hill
Parker Retzlaff
Ryan Sieg
Dean Thompson
Sheldon Creed
Jesse Love
Anthony Alfredo
Jeremy Clements
Rajah Caruth
Blaine Perkins
Brennan Poole
Leland Honeyman
Jeb Burton
Kyle Sieg
Patrick Staropoli
Logan Bearden
Harrison Burton
Mason Maggio
Ryan Ellis
Austin Green
Lavar Scott
Josh Bilicki
Garrett Smithley
Dawson Cram
Cleetus McFarland
Joey Gase
David Starr
JJ Yeley