XFINITY Series - Results from #5

Noah Gragson won Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series opening race at Daytona, winning in a three-lap shootout that would end under caution.

For Gragson, this marks his first ever NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in his 37th career start.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity,” Gragson told FS1 post-race. “Man I’m speechless right now, I didn’t think this would come. I spent a lot of time with Dale Jr. this week talking for about two hours. Wanted to be a better speedway racer. He told me ‘go have fun, wreckers or checkers, you got to manage your gaps, be there at the end and just lead the damn thing.’ That’s what we did.”

For Jr Motorsports, this is their third straight win in the February race at Daytona.

Driver No. 9 had to rebound from a speeding penalty on Lap 32. This was the fifth time in the last seven races that the winner rebounded from a penalty during the race.

Gragson led 15 laps of the race and beat out Harrison Burton, Timmy Hill, Brandon Jones and Chase Briscoe rounding out the top five.

Harrison Burton earned his best finish (second) in his 10 Xfinity Series starts and his second top five place finish.

The race would end under caution due to a massive wreck on the back straightaway on the final lap.

The late-race restart was set up by a wreck on a restart with seven laps to go.

The wreck collected Jeb Burton, Austin Cindric, Ryan Sieg, Brett Moffitt and others. It started when Briscoe, who took the lead moved up to block Gragson as the field entered Turn 3. Harrison Burton, running behind Gragson had to check up and was turned by Cindric. Burton collected Jones before turning back into the wall.

The wreck would result in a red flag that would last nearly eight minutes.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Feb. 22 in the running of the Boyd Gaming 300. Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports 1.

Stage 1 Winner: Jeb Burton

Stage 2 Winner: Justin Allgaier

Race Winner: Noah Gragson

Justin Allgaier took the checkered flag in Saturday's Desert Diamond West Valley 200 at ISM Raceway and clinched his spot into the Championship 4. 

The No. 7 Brandt Chevrolet took the green flag in the 5th position and battled for his spot in the playoffs throughout the evening. Christopher Bell started on the pole and dominated the first two stages of the race. Allgaier finished second in both stages. 

Before the green flag waved to start stage 3, Bell was penalized for speeding on pit road, sending him to the rear of the field on the restart. Allgaier inherited the lead and maintained until the end. Cole Custer found speed as well, but ran out of time. He cut Allgaier's lead from three seconds to .810 of a second. 

"I just came up a little bit short, but I think that was the best run we've ever had at Phoenix in a long time," Custer said. 

Justin Allgaier snapped a 39-race winless streak after leading a total of 85 laps, including the final 66. This was his first trip to victory lane this season and the 11th of his racing career. 

"Hats off to everybody at Chevrolet and JR Motorsports. We had a hot rod today, maybe we wouldn't beat the 20, but he made a mistake and it was our race." 

Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, John Hunter Nemechek and Zane Smith rounded out the top five at ISM Raceway. 

Joining Allgaier in the Championship 4 will be Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick and Cole Custer. 

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will be back in action one last time on Saturday, November 16. A champion will be named at Homestead-Miami Speedway at 3:30 PM ET on NBCSN. 

Kyle Busch took the checkered flag at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Saturday's Indiana 250. 

Busch managed to hold off the defending Indianapolis race winner, Justin Allgaier, in the final four laps to take the checkered flag for the fourth time this season.

After starting from the pole, Busch maintained top three for the first two stages, finishing third in Stage 1 and second in Stage 2. 

With only a handful of laps left, Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell got into one another as they were battling for the lead bringing out a late race caution. The wreck eliminated two of the front-runners, giving Kyle Busch the top spot with only seven laps to go. 

The No. 18 Joe Gibbs Toyota took the lead on the final restart. Justin Allgaier trailed Busch by only .132 seconds as the laps were winding down. Busch held on to win for the 96th time in his career, adding to his series record. 

"I'm really proud of this team. This Toyota Supra was awesome today, and glad we got to take it to Victory Lane."

Allgaier, the defending Indianapolis winner, finished second, followed by Noah Gragson, Jeb Burton and Justin Haley rounding out the top-five. 

The Xfinity Series will be back in action for the regular season finale on Saturday, SeptEmber 14 at 7:30 PM on NBCSN. 

Tyler Reddick took the checkered flag in Saturday’s LTi Printing 250 at Michigan International Speedway. 

The RCR wheelman overcame pit mistakes and fuel concerns to get his first win in the Irish Hills. Fuel strategy played a big role at the two-mile speedway. Many of the top contenders found themselves hoping for a caution as stage three was winding down. 

After pitting for the final time on lap 78, Reddick was able to save fuel for the remaining 47 laps. 

With 10 laps to go, Cole Custer and Christopher Bell pitted from the top spots to give Reddick the lead. Bell had a code word mixup on the final caution that forced him to pit under green. Custer was told to mimic Bell’s strategy, meaning he would miss his opportunity to pit under caution and have to pit under green-flag conditions. 

Reddick drove his No. 2 RCR Chevrolet to the top spot and parked it in victory lane for the third time this season. 

“A great team effort. I didn’t do the thing I needed to do on the race track but, man, that was a great car and we put ourselves in position to win.”

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will be back in action on Sunday, June 16 at Iowa Speedway for the CircuitCity.com 250 at 5:30 PM ET. 

Indianapolis ---

The rain has cleared out and we have an all-day NASCAR event at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I can’t think of a better way to start the week! 650 miles of racing in one day!

Wow what an exciting Lilly Diabetes 250. Holy cow we saw stage 1 end in 4 wide won by John Hunter Nemechek

Stage 2 Strategy and fight for second place won by Christopher Bell, Stage 2 won by Daniel Hemric .

One of the most exciting Xfinity races of the season unfolded right here in Indy.

Unfortunately the day ended badly for Ty Dillion, Austin Cindric , and Elliot Sadler. Sadler recently announcing his retirement. This not the way he wanted to end his last race at Indy.

Elliott Sadler hit Dillon's No. 3 car and both went hard into the third turn wall. Sadler started his final Indy race fourth in points. Then one-lap shootout that John Hunter Nemechek barely won as the cars went four wide.

Stage 3 wasn’t without calamity Brandon Jones made contact with Cole Custer causing heavy contact with the inside wall before sliding down the back stretch. Cole was evaluated and released from the infield Care center

#18 Ryan Preece got loose and slammed into Tire barrier. Creating red Flag conditions for cleanup in turn 2. Preece was evaluated and released from the infield Care center

In the final laps the battle for the lead go 3 wide!  With 10 to go Ryan Truex hits wall and is forced to pit.

Conragts to Justin Allgaier gets his first win at Indy. Congrats also to JR Motorsports!

After a long wait…we finally have a checkered flag wave at Indy! What smoke show here at Indy.  Justin Allgaier “This is one is for my dad…This all about family” Tears flowing this was clearing an emotional win for Justin Allgaier

1. Justin Allgaier
2. Tyler Reddick
3. Ryan Blaney
4. Chase Elliott
5. Daniel Hemric
6. Matt Tifft
7. Christopher Bell
8. Austin Dillon
9. Chase Briscoe
10. Brandon jones
11. Ryan Reed
12. Ross Chastain
13. Ryan Sieg
14. Jeremy Clements
15. Joey Gase
16. BJ McLeod
17. Vinnie Miller
18. David Starr
19. Alex Labbe
20. Garrett Smithley
21. Chad Finchum
22. Ryan Truex
23. Caesar Bacarella
24. Josh Williams
25. John Hunter Nemechek
26. Mike Harmon
27. Tommy Joe Martins
28. Ryan Preece
29. Cole Custer
30. JJ Yeley
31. Michael Annett
32. Morgan Shepherd
33. Ty Dillon
34. Austin Cindric
35. Elliott Sadler
36. Spencer Boyd
37. Brandon Hightower
38. Josh Bilicki
39. Bayley Currey
40. Jeff Green

In other news as we get ready for the 25^th running of the Brickyard 400

Jamie McMurray may be headed into the final Brickyard 400 of his career with Chip Ganassi Racing. McMurray won the race in 2010.

Ganassi says he's offered McMurray a contract to drive the Daytona 500 next season, then move into a leadership role with the organization similar to the one Dario Franchitti holds. Ganassi says McMurray has not decided if he will stay with the team or seek a full-time driving job elsewhere.

The contract confirms the No. 1 Chevrolet will be open at the end of this season, but Ganassi declined to comment on signing free agent Kurt Busch.

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