Roulette Recap follows a randomly selected driver throughout a race to break down their efforts. There is no telling ahead of time how the race will go. The driver could face calamity on the opening lap or start from the rear and win the race. With that, may the odds be ever in the driver’s favor.
The LiUNA!
Anthony Alfredo ran with Our Motorsports in 2022 and has returned to the team for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Season. He headed to Las Vegas Motor Speedway coming off a top-10 finish at Atlanta, looking to build on that momentum. Alfredo also looked to solidify his working relationship with a new crew chief and spotter.
In practice for the LiUNA 200, Alfredo sat P19. Unfortunately, before the session ended, he blew a right front tire on his No. 5 Dude Wipes Chevrolet Camaro. He slammed the wall hard and it was a foregone conclusion he would be heading to a backup car. Shortly after that, Alfredo tweeted that his team was taking his Phoenix primary car and prepping it for the Vegas race.
Additionally, he did not qualify and was forced to start P37.
Ahead of the green flag, the No. 5 team confirmed plans to feel out the car in the opening laps to find out what they had before going all out. Justin Allgaier, Sage Karam, and Blaine Perkins also joined Alfredo at the rear of the field.
Crew Chief Josh Graham thanked his team for the hard work, and said, “Let’s get the best finish that we can.”
Alfredo also thanked his team for “busting tails” overnight in getting the backup car race-ready.
Spotter Keith Barnwell sent his driver off with encouragement, stating, “We know what we gotta do. Have a safe day.”
Stage 1
With that, the green flag was in the air and the leaders were taking it three wide. Graham radioed in onLap 2 to check in on things and heard his driver say, “So far, so good.”
Barnwell noted, “Good pace,” as Alfredo settled in at P35. He also informed Alfredo that there were three wide battles throughout the field. On Lap 7, Alfredo gave a quick, positive update on his car. But before he could make any more ground, the caution was out as Parker Retzlaff got sideways and made contact with Sam Mayer.
Graham opted to bring Alfredo to the pits to give the No. 5 a once-over. Sitting P33, Alfredo said, “It doesn’t feel far off from yesterday, so great job guys!” After pitting, he returned to track in the 33rd position to restart on Lap 14. Graham reminded his driver, “Remember, we’re just trying to get to the end of this stage and then we’ll make some moves.”
However, with the green flag in the air, Barnwell radioed in, “I think we’re going to the front, guys.” Graham said, “Yeh! That’s what I like to hear!”
Alfredo was moving up a spot nearly every lap. By Lap 17, he had worked to P27. Three laps later, Alfredo had put some space between his car and those behind him and was able to focus forward.
At the time Alfredo was running P24, Graham said, “You’re way faster than the next seven [cars].” Alfredo kept gaining spots and was sitting P23 on Lap 26.
With 14 to go, Barnwell informed his driver, “The guys in front of you are racing their guts out.” Alfredo continued to maintain P23 through the closing laps of the stage as it stretched to single file.
As Alfredo took three to go, he gained another two spots and was flirting with the top 20. However, he would finish the stage P21.
Stage 2
During the stage break, Alfredo updated Graham on his handling and then came to his team for adjustments, tires, and fuel. Stage 2 started on Lap 54 and while Alfredo lined up P23, he immediately broke into the top 20. Before he could complete one lap, he was sitting P19 while the leaders were beating and banging.
Three laps into the stage, Leland Honeyman, Jr. got around him, and a lap later, Jeb Burton was on his bumper.
Graham instructed his driver, “Relax. We’re going to pull away from him.” Alfredo responded, “I’m going to let it come to me here.” He maintained P20 while the leaders were separated by four-tenths of a second.
Lap 61 saw Alfredo and Honeyman in a battle that had the two drivers swapping spots with nearly every turn of the track.
Two laps later, Alfredo was sitting top of three and he radioed in, “I hate racing people like this!” Barnwell said, “Let ’em go. We’ll catch ’em in a minute. They’re going to race the snot out of each other here.” And with that, Alfredo dropped back to P21.
Once the battle between Burton and Honeyman shook out, Graham said, “Let’s get to work.” Within a lap, Alfredo made up one spot and noted, “It’s coming to me.”
With 17 to go in the stage, some of the cars ahead of Alfredo were starting to drop off. He was told, “Go get ’em.”
It was also about this time, the third lane started to come in and drivers were starting to run the wall. As Alfredo took 10 to go, he gained a spot as he got around Kyle Weatherman. Three laps later, Graham yelled, “Heck of a lap!” and noted it was “faster than fifth place.”
Barnwell continued to encourage Alfredo as the laps ticked by, and Alfredo held his ground to finish the stage P18.
Stage 3
Alfredo once again gave an update on his handling and Graham brought his driver in for fuel, adjustment, and tires. Alfredo returned to track in P19 and opted to take the top lane because of the “better cars” that also chose that lane.
He chose well and gained a spot within a lap. Two laps later, he had gained one more spot to sit P17. However, he was immediately in a three-wide battle. He came out the other side still in P17 and Barnwell said, “Let’s drive away from that mess behind us.”
The field once again stretched to single file, however, there were mini battles throughout. On Lap 108, Alfredo got a shoutout from the FOX booth as he battled with Josh Williams. Unforutnately, at that time, he lost a position. Shortly after, he radioed in that his car was not handling like he would prefer.
The race settled down and talk of green flag stops started. Before teams could attempt anything, the caution was out as Retzleff sat stalled at the pit road exit.
Graham informed Alfredo everyone would be pitting, so the No. 5 team would be as well. He came in from P18 for fresh tires, fuel, and minor adjustments. After a lengthy stop, he returned to track in P21 and was told, “Everyone is about 10 laps short, so we’ll all need to pit one more time.”
Another wild restart awaited the field and Alfredo was sitting on the bottom of three cars. Within two laps, it settled to two wide with Alfredo in P19. With 67 to go, he had gained another spot and was asking for someone to check on potential nose damage. Barnwell confirmed all was good and Alfredo went back to work.
He lost a spot as Sheldon Creed got around him, but held steady with lap times.
50 To Go
As the race hit 50 to go Graham started weighing options of pitting early or running long. The next 13 laps were quiet on the No. 5 radio while Alfredo held steady, sandwiched between Brennan Poole and Burton.
However, with 35 to go, green flag stops began. Three laps later, Graham instructed Alfredo to “eye up his pit road entry.” Alfredo worked to P5 before hitting pit road for his last stop of the day with 30 to go.
Alfredo returned to track and immediately said he smelled smoke. Barnwell radioed in, “The [No.] 00 (Cole Custer) said we have a tire rub.” However, the concern died down once a few laps were under Alfredo’s belt.
Awaiting pit stops to cycle around, Alfredo was sitting P20, down one lap. Meanwhile, the leaders were banging doors with 19 to go.
One more spot was gained with 15 to go and Alfredo was told the No. 2 (Jesse Love) was “for position” and “we’re faster.”
The closing laps were quiet and with five to go, Alfredo was told to “just bring it home.”
Alfredo did just that. After logging a P16 finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a backup car, he said, “Good work guys! This was a great car! Let’s go have another good week next week.”
So proud of this group! They took our Phoenix primary car as a back up and worked their butts off to get it set up for Las Vegas. It was FAST and we came from the back to finish p16. #FastPasta #SauceMafia #NeverGiveUp #nascar #racing pic.twitter.com/RNUUKE8fS2
— Anthony Alfredo (@anthonyalfredo) March 3, 2024
Sponsor Shoutout + Driver & Team Socials
NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to Dude Wipes who played a huge part of the weekend for Anthony Alfredo and the No. 5 team.
Be sure to give Anthony (Facebook, Instagram, X) and Our Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
