Xfinity Series: Aric Almirola comes out on top at Bristol

Written by Bailey Defoor

Credit: Jared C. Tilton

In a late race restart, Aric Almirola held off Sheldon Creed to win in Bristol!

As it unfolded

Justin Allgaier began on the pole alongside Sam Mayer, and Allgaier got the lead early. Connor Zilisch challenged for second, but Mayer slotted in second. The first caution came on Lap 11 for Kyle Sieg, who went sideways. 

For the restart on Lap 18, Allgaier chose the outside and teammate Zilisch went to the inside. Allgaier got in front of Zilisch immediately. Sammy Smith started falling back on Lap 50, reporting an engine issue, and he went into the pitlane on Lap 58 before going behind the wall.

The second caution came out on Lap 77 as Corey Day got into Jesse Love and Day went sideways into Stephan Parsons. All drivers except Harrison Burton and Love opted to flip the stage, so they went down pit road under caution. Zilisch got off pit road ahead of Allgaier. Sheldon Creed was penalized for speeding in pit lane. H. Burton and Love led the field back to green with two laps in the stage, and Love had a little help from Allgaier behind. Allgaier swept around the inside of Love and Zilisch followed through at the line.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS]

2. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS]

3. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing) [PLAYOFFS] 

4. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team) [PLAYOFFS]

5. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing) [PLAYOFFS]

6. No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)

7. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)

8. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS]

9. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) [PLAYOFFS]

10. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

Allgaier and Zilisch lined up at the front once again and led the way on Lap 99. Allgaer got into the front easily as Mayer challenged Zilisch for second. Zilisch got into the side of Mayer and almost fell back, but he was able to slot back into third place. Mayer went up to the lead on Lap 104, and Zilisch took second from Allgaier. 

Allagaier fell back from the top two, and on Lap 162, Zilisch looked to the inside of Mayer for the lead. The top two reached lapped traffic as the stage closed, and at the line, Zilisch edged ahead of Mayer for the stage win.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS]

2. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team) [PLAYOFFS]

3. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS]

4. No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)

5. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS]

6. No. 26 - Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing)

7. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) [PLAYOFFS]

8. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

9. No. 44 - Brennen Poole (Alpha Prime Racing)

10. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing) [PLAYOFFS]

After a cycle of pit stops, Zilisch and Mayer were leading the way on Lap 184. Allgaier had a great start from behind Zilisch and immediately got alongside Mayer for second while Zilisch got away with the lead. Allagier started falling back as Almirola passed him on Lap 205. Creed had the momentum to pass Allgaier, too, but had to back out of it. Creed eventually passed Allagier on the outside on Lap 210 as a caution was thrown for a spin from Daniel Dye.

Allgaier, Taylor Gray, and Austin Hill were the only playoff drivers to elect for a pit stop under the caution. Zilisch had a clean getaway as Mayer and Almirola fought for second. Brandon Jones got between the two and got Mayer loose. Almirola moved up to second, Jones into third, Creed in fourth, and Mayer in fifth.

On Lap 262, Carson Ware spun out from 30th. Some drivers jumped into the pit lane, but, notably, Almirola and Mayer stayed out. Almirola and Carson Kavpil led the way with 30 laps to go. Almirola got ahead as Mayer got into the wall. No caution came out until Gray went sideways. Love also suffered a flat tyre and went to pit lane just before the caution was thrown. 

It was Almirola and Kvapil again for the restart on Lap 282, and Almirola went to the lead. Kvapil got loose as Zilisch moved up to fourth in a three-wide move between him, Creed, and H. Burton. Mayer fought with Almirola, but Creed had the momentum. 

On the last lap, Creed flew passed Mayer and challenged for the win, but it was Aric Almirola’s race to win.

Provisional Results

1. No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)

2. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team) [PLAYOFFS]

3. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team) [PLAYOFFS]

4. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS] 

5. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS] [FL]

6. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS]

7. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing) [PLAYOFFS] 

8. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

9. No. 51 - Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing)

10. No. 44 - Brennen Poole (Alpha Prime Racing)

11. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing) [PLAYOFFS]

12. No. 26 - Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing)

13. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing) [PLAYOFFS]

14. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) [PLAYOFFS]

15. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

16. No. 4 - Parker Retzlaff (Alpha Prime Racing)

17. No. 17 - Corey Day (Hendrick Motorsports)

18. No. 27 - Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing)

19. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing) [PLAYOFFS]

20. No. 11 - Brenden Queen (Kaulig Racing)

21. No. 28 - Kyle Sieg (RSS Racing)

22. No. 42 - Anthony Alfredo (Young’s Motorsports) 

23. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing) +1 lap

24. No. 99 - Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports) +1 lap

25. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing) [PLAYOFFS] +1 lap

26. No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing) +1 lap

27. No. 24 - Jeffrey Earndardt (Sam Hunt Racing) +1 lap

28. No. 45 - Josh Williams (Alpha Prime Racing) +2 laps

29. No. 91 - Josh Bilicki (DGM Racing x JIM) +4 laps

30. No. 14 - Logan Bearden (SS-Green Light Racing) +4 laps

31. No. 32 - Austin Green (Jordan Anderson Racing)  +5 laps

32. No. 70 - Leland Honeyman (Cope Family Racing) +6 laps

33. No. 07 - Carson Ware (SS-Green Light Racing) +12 laps

34. No. 31 - Blaine Perkins (Jordan Anderson Racing) +13 laps

35. No. 53 - Joey Gase (Joey Gase Racing) [DNF]

36. No. 5 - Stefan Parsons (Alpha Prime Racing) [DNF]

37. No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports) [PLAYOFFS] [DNF]

38. No. 71 - Ryan Ellis (DGM Racing + JIM) [DNF]

NASCAR Xfinity heads to Kansas Speedway next race in the Round of 12 after a brief break! Be there on Saturday, September 27, at 16:00 ET (21:00 BST). 

Provisional Playoff Picture

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch: +85

2. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier: +53

3. No. 41 - Sam Mayer: +35

4. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil: +23

5. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed: +16

6. No. 35 - Harrison Burton: +9

7. No. 20 - Brandon Jones: +8

8. No. 54 - Taylor Gray: +3

Playoff Cut Line

1. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez: -3

2. No. 2 - Jesse Love: -3

3. No. 21 - Austin Hill: -16

4. No. 8 - Sammy Smith: -24