In Florida, there is always a chance for rain. That was especially true when NASCAR was present. With that being said, qualifying for the United Rentals 300 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series was rained out, so the field was set by last year’s points. That gave reigning champion Justin Allgaier the pole. Taylor Gray joined him on the front row. Austin Hill started in fourth, with Sheldon Creed behind him in sixth.
Early Action
Allgaier and Gray took the green and Allgaier launched out front. He quickly pulled ahead of the inside line. The outside line stayed closer to each other and looked much faster early in the race. Several cars bailed out of the inside line. The first caution came early as Brandon Jones got turned off of the front bumper of Jesse Love. Daniel Dye and Connor Zilisch were also involved. Jeb Burton was able to scamper through.
Hill and Allgaier brought the field back to green with 19 to go in the stage. Once again, the outside line formed up much quicker than the inside. The second caution came out when Brendan Poole’s hood flew up and dropped debris onto the track. Many cars pitted under the caution including Allgaier.
Hill and Gray restarted on the front row and Creed pushed Hill out in front. Hill dropped down to cover the inside line but did not stay long. The outside line stormed out in front with the inside falling apart. Creed had opportunities to challenge for the lead but opted not to until the last lap. Hill threw a block to stay out in front. Nick Sanchez jumped on the outside to try to make a run but was unsuccessful. Hill stayed out in front to win stage one.
King of the HILL
Allgaier and Harrison Burton restarted the race on the front row. Zilisch, who pushed Burton, fell out of line, and to the back of the pack he went. Sammy Smith used a run to dive underneath Burton. He got around and then in front of him. Hill used the middle lane to get by Sam Mayer.
Allgaier was shuffled out after Hill drove underneath him. Hill powered his way through the field and back into the front spot.
Ryan Sieg and Nick Sanchez settled behind him. Hill moved the fast line from outside to inside. Behind him formed up, while the outside line struggled to keep together. That did not last as Hill moved to the outside, so the speed did too.
Sanchez was turned into the wall off the bumper of Creed. Creed tried to be aggressive with Sanchez into the turn, but Sanchez could not handle the push. That caution brought out the yellow and ended the stage. Hill got the stage win!
Under caution, fluid was observed coming from the car Austin Hill. Changing tires showed fluid all over the right rear.
Up in Smoke
Hill and Gray started stage three in the front row. Behind Hill were Creed, Allgaier, and Jesse Love. Creed used a big run to slip underneath Hill. R.Sieg followed and pushed Creed to the front. Creed went high to block Hill, which allowed R. Seig to take the lead. Hill managed to muscle his way back in front of the pack. Suddenly, the cockpit of Hill started to fill up with smoke. Blaine Perkins’s car also started smoking in the middle of the pack. He backed out and fell to the rear. Sieg took the lead with Allgaier pushing him.
The Chevys were the first to pit road. The stop for Hill took much longer than normal. They took a look under the car to look for leaking fluid. Garrett Smithley drove into the wrong pit box. Hill kept his car on pit road, as the cockpit filled with smoke. The next caution came out when Kris Wright pulled off the track to service his car. He plowed into the back of Josh Bilicki. It appeared to be a brake issue. During all this, Leland Honeyman stopped his car on the backstretch.
Creed and Love brought the field back to green. Love, with a great push from Burton, got out front and took over the outside line. The inside line fell apart. Connor Zilisch and Creed led the inside and outside line with Love out front. Gray took over the outside line. Zilisch then got shuffled to the third row. A caution came out with eight laps to go. With the aggression ramping up, Allgaier clipped Justin Bonsignore who turned into Sammy Smith. Also involved in the wreck was Anthony Alfredo.
Close it Out
With three to go, Love and Creed led the field for the restart. Love had a great restart and jumped out front. He and Gray slid down to the bottom lane. Creed sped to the outside of Gray, completing the pass for second. Zilisch brought out the next caution after being turned into the outside wall. He was turned into the outside wall by Allgaier.
Love and Mayer led the field into Overtime. Again, Love had a great jump and snatched the lead back. He took the white flag in front of Gray and Mayer. Allgaier was turned in the middle of the pack and into the wall. A big crash ensued as Love crossed the finish line to take the white flag. Jesse Love got the win in Daytona!
Marvin’s Minute:
With Austin Hill not in the race, it was anyone’s win to take. He has been the fastest superspeedway racer for a few years. I don’t think anyone will argue with that. Jesse Love went out and grabbed the victory. This will be a great season of Xfinity Series action. There is so much talent spread throughout the field. Jesse Love grabbed his second win and will look to keep it up at Atlanta next week. Follow these recaps throughout the season!
