Xfinity Series: Aric Almirola wins it all at LVMS

Written by Bailey Defoor

Credit: Chris Graythen

Aric Almirola swept all three stages at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, kicking off the Round of 8.

As it unfolded

JR Motorsports locked out the front row once again with Justin Allgaier on the pole and Connor Zilisch beside him. Allgaier cleared for the lead with Brandon Jones slotting into second as Zilisch struggled to get going at first. Zilisch got help from Almirola behind and went back up to second. 

The first caution came on Lap 24 for debris on the track. Allgaier, Almirola, and Jesse Love, who had just completed the pass on Zilisch for third, were the top three. 

On the restart on Lap 29, Allgaier and Almirola led the way, but Love went three-wide for the lead. Almirola came out on top, while Allgaier fell back a little and Zilisch swept around up to second. They stayed tightly together through the end of the stage.

Stage 1 Results:

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

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

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

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

5. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing) 

6. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

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

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

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

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

After a cycle of pit stops, Love and Austin Hill made up the most places on pit road. Love cycled into the lead alongside Almirola while Hill lined up behind his teammate for the restart on Lap 53. Zilisch restarted behind Almirola but easily passed Hill and began charging for the leaders. Amirola moved up to the lead as Zilisch and Love scrapped for second. 

By Lap 63, Zilisch had fallen back a little, so Love and Almirola started to battle for the lead.

Stage 2 Results:

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

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

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

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

5. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing) 

6. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

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

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

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

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

This cycle of pit stops saw Zilisch come out first alongside Love for the start of the final stage on Lap 98. Zilisch cleared Love for the lead as Corey Day made some moves, getting up to seventh on the opening lap from outside the top 10.

On Lap 107. Zilisch and Amirola made contact while fighting for the lead. The No. 88 suffered some damage but kept going, falling back to third.

With 62 laps to go, the green flag pit stops began after Sheldon Creed came down, reporting a tyre vibration.

Love passed Almirola for the lead on Lap 140 before both dropped into the pits.

After the full cycle of pits, Love remained the race leader, followed closely by Zilisch and Almirola. Zilisch was on Love’s bumper as the two battled for their way into the Championship 4. Zilisch went by Love with 29 Laps to go, just before Dean Thompson spun, bringing out the first incident-related caution of the night.

Most of the lead lap drivers pitted, and on pit road, Almirola got ahead of Love, but Zilisch stayed in the lead. They led the way to green on Lap 178, and Zilisch and Almirola stayed door-to-door through the opening lap. Zilisch cleared him one lap later as Almirola and Nick Sanchez made slight contact. Sanchez started to fight against Almirola for second. 

Sanchez got a little loose and fell into the clutches of Love. The two battled back and forth before Allgaier joined the fight. Allgaier easily passed both of them as Almirola and Zilisch battled for the lead. Almirola retook the lead on Lap 193.

In the closing stages, the No. 19 got loose, allowing Zilisch to catch up to him. Still, Aric Almirola swept both stages before going on to win in Las Vegas!

Provisional Results

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

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

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

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

5. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing) 

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

7. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing) 

8. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

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

10. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

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

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

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

14. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing)

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

16. No. 11 - Daniel Hemric (Kaulig Racing)

17. No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing)

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

19. No. 99 - Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports)

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

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

22. No. 24 - Trevor Bayne (Sam Hunt Racing) 

23. No. 91 - Josh Williams (DGM Racing x JIM) 

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

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

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

27. No. 31 - Blaine Perkins (Jordan Anderson Racing) 

28. No. 26 - Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing) +1 lap

29. No. 71 - Ryan Ellis (DGM Racing + JIM) +1 lap 

30. No. 4 - Parker Retzlaff (Alpha Prime Racing) +1 lap

31. No. 32 - Austin Green (Jordan Anderson Racing) +2 laps 

32. No. 14 - Garrett Smithley (SS-Green Light Racing) +2 laps

33. No. 35 - Mason Maggio (Joey Gase Racing)  +3 laps

34. No. 07 - Nick Leitz (SS-Green Light Racing) +3 laps

35. No. 53 - Joey Gase (Joey Gase Racing) +5 laps 

36. No. 51 - Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing) [DNF] 

37. No. 45 - Mason Massey (Alpha Prime Racing) [DNF]

38. No. 70 - Thomas Annunziata (Cope Family Racing)  [DNF]

Next week, NASCAR Xfinity will be at Talladega Superspeedway for the second race in the Round of 8. Tune in on Saturday, October 18, at 16:00 ET (21:00 UK). 

Provisional Playoff Picture

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch: +82

2. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier: +44

3. No. 2 - Jesse Love: +20

4. No. 41 - Sam Mayer: +8

Playoff Cut Line

1. No. 20 - Brandon Jones: -8

2. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed: -21

3. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil: -22

4. No. 8 - Sammy Smith: -24