After grabbing his first career Xfinity Series pole earlier in the day, Parker Retzlaff would receive an early challenge from Cole Custer for the lead on the initial lap of the race before being forced to fall back allowing Allgaier to take the second spot away.
Rezlaff would have clear sailing out front when debris in the form of a paper plate would get stuck to the front of the car causing engine temps to rise drastically. Retzlaff would continue to lead the way as caution would come out for the first time of the day when the No. 32 of Vargas engine would let go just as 20 laps would go.
This would save the No. 31 team allowing them to get the debris off the grille under the caution. As the race would go back green Allgaier who had started to inch his way to the lead prior to the caution would finally make his move getting around Retzlaff bringing both Heim and Custer along with him.
As the green flag would go back in the air Allgaier would be challenged by Heim for the lead taking it away just as Brandon Jones car would go up in smoke sending the No. 9 machine spinning into turn one with Ryan Sieg trying to avoid Jones’s car only to spin and contact the wall.
Jones’ car would end up at the bottom of the track with smoke continuing to pour out as Jones would exit the car ending his day early.
On the restart Allgaier would take the lead away from Heim with a battle between the two before Heim was forced to give up the spot allowing Almirola to take over the second spot. Allgaier would attempt to get away to no avail as Almirola would quickly make the pass for the lead.
The first stage of the day would end with Almirola that home the opening stage win over Poole who worked himself through the field to finish second followed by Heim, Allgaier and Mayer.
Stage two would run mostly quiet except for Bearden who would be the sole caution of the stage when he would spin his car in turns three and four and two cars of Creed and Emerling who both would suffer mechanical issues would park their cars in the garage ending their day.
Almirola would lead 73 of the stage laps to take home the second stage win of the day over Mayer, Chandler Smith, Gray and Heim.
During the pit stops Almirola would come off pit road with Mayer and Gray banging fenders leaving their boxes on pit road. Mayer would start second with a tire rub that would quickly turn into a cut tire causing the team to make a stop putting them two laps down.
Meanwhile, back at the front of the field, Chandler Smith would take away the lead from Almirola.
Caution would come out for the sixth time of the day when Dawson Cram would get into the No. 35 machine of Gase sending him backwards into the wall. Gase would jump out of the car ripping the rear bumper of the car, marched down the track and pitched it at the No. 6 of Cram before making his way to the safety car to head to the infield care center.
Smith would continue his control leading the final 60 laps taking home the victory over Aric Almirola who led a race high four times for 95 laps followed by Gray, Heim, and Love.
In the process, Smith would lap all but nine cars enroute to victory. This would be Smith’s second career victory in the series following a win in the summer event at Richmond in 2023.
Bubba Pollard, well known in the late model community making his Xfinity Series start would lead practice only to start near the rear ending his day in the sixth spot.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns next Saturday, April 6th at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1 to start a four race series for the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash with Chandler Smith, Almirola, Love and Kligerman the four cars qualifying for the first round.
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship race starting lineup at Phoenix Raceway - November 8, 2024
- Transcripts: Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell – Press Conference – 11-8-24 - November 8, 2024
- Six Inducted into Virginia Motorsports HOF; Champions and Award Winners Honored at South Boston Speedway Awards Banquet - November 8, 2024