The US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville was supposed to be a celebration of one of the finest branches of our U.S. military. 250 years of toughness for the “devil dogs” were represented on track with how durable these NASCAR Xfinity series cars are. The chaos and carnage run deep for both the Marines and the Xfinity Series. Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil began the show on the front row. Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Sheldon Creed were the “Dash 4 Cash” drivers. The stage lengths were 60 laps for the first two and 130 laps for the final stage.

Quick Stage for Zilisch

Zilisch got a great launch at the green flag. Hill moved inside Kvapil on the preferred inside line, but Kvapil did not give up on the spot. Kvapil fought long enough and was able to hold off Hill for second. The field was mostly singled out by lap 10 on the bottom lane. The outside line did eventually get better as rubber was laid on the track.

With Zilisch growing his lead, Brandon Jones caught up to Kvapil. They fought through lapped traffic while Kvapil was also fighting to hold his spot. Christian Eckes used his bumper to move William Sawalich out of the way. They had been racing hard, but Eckes wanted no more and smartly moved Sawalich.

The first caution came out when Corey Day overshot turn one and ran Harrison Burton into the wall. Day got the worst of the damage, but they both were able to drive off and continue with the race. That accident meant that Zilisch led every lap in the stage and got the stage win!

So It Begins

Jones and Allgaier brought the field back to green. Jones snagged the lead after a good restart. Zilisch made the pass on his teammate for the second spot. The field fighting for positions all over the track included Daniel Dye using his nose to move Ryan Sieg into Eckes. Eckes got shuffled out of the racing line and lost several spots. Eckes fought to get back into the mix on the racing lines.

The third caution came out when Garrett Smithley spun off of turn four. Jones and Zilisch got damage after trying to avoid the stopped car. Jones had to pit to repair the damage. Zilisch stayed out on the race track and reassumed the lead. He was told not to use the front right of his bumper anymore to limit further damage.

Allgaier joined Zilisch on the front row for the restart. They both got good restarts and remained side by side. They raced hard until Zilisch made a mistake and allowed Allgaier to take the lead. Zilisch did not give up. He fought to stay with the leader. Zilisch dove underneath Allgaier and made the pass.

Race to Win the Stage

Dean Thompson brought out the fourth caution of the day after getting turned around by Anthony Alfredo who was getting shoved by Christian Eckes. A few pit strategies were at play as some of the field pitted for tires and others stayed out for track position.

Zilisch and Austin Hill brought the green flag back out. Zilisch got the better jump of the two. He retook his lead with 18 to go in the stage. The field, with pit strategies varying, was battle aplenty. The drivers with newer tires were set to pass their way to the front. The older tires stayed out for better field position and to get stage points. With spacing limited, that challenge was big.

Allgaier was one of the few that was able to move through and gain the highly valued stage points. He restarted 18th and was able to get into eighth before the stage ended. Zilisch got his second stage win of the day! He was one of the drivers that stayed out so he pitted under the yellow. Zilisch and Sawalich won the race off of pit road.

Wreckfest

Aric Almirola and Allgaier restarted the race out front. Allgaier, in the front row, struggled to restart. Almirola was able to scamper out into the lead. Taylor Gray fought back and took the lead on the inside. Harrison Burton brought out the fifth caution after having an undertray come out from under his car and stick to the front. Burton was not happy with Thomas Annunziata.

Gray and Sheldon Creed took the green flag. Creed fought hard but Gray was able to take the lead after several laps side by side. Almirola snuck underneath Creed to try to get to second. Before he could get there, Sam Mayer and Kvapil brought out the sixth caution. Mayer squeezed Zilisch into the outside wall and bounced off of him into Kvapil who hit the inside wall. Kvapil had to pit for tires and to repair the damage.

The vast majority of the cars on the lead lap pitted for tires and fuel to take them to the finish. Gray and Creed won the race off of the pits.

Eckes and Myatt Snider brought the green back out with 90 to go in the race. Eckes took the lead quickly. Sawalich got to the inside of Snider and was able to take second place. Daniel Dye was also able to pass Snider for third. Gray and Creed, with fresh tires, cut through the cars that stayed out. Gray passed his way back into the top five. Then, Snider was moved by Nick Sanchez. They both lost several spots to the quicker new tires.

The seventh caution came out when Zilisch got turned around in turn one. He overcooked the turn, and the rear of his car slipped on him.

Caution, Caution, Caution

Gray and Sawalich restarted the race on the front row. Gray, on the outside, got a great launch. Sawalich tried to keep Gray at bay, and did use his bumper a bit, but Gray prevailed and retook the lead. Creed got underneath Sawalich and took second place. Sawalich fell to fourth after being stuck on the outside line. Sammy Smith was able to drive underneath and by Creed for the spot.

Carson Ware brought out the eighth caution after getting turned around. He seemed to get turned by himself. He was able to get it back around and keep going in the race.

Gray and Smith brought the field back to green with 53 laps to go. Gray was able to retake the lead. Just as the field was getting going, the ninth caution came out when Burton got turned around.

Gray and Smith, again, restarted on the front row. Gray was able to take the lead again after another great restart. Allgaier got underneath Smith but could not take second. Thompson brought out the 10th caution after getting turned around with 40 to go.

More Cautions

Gray and Smith found themselves on the front row for another restart. Gray got away from turn two with the lead again. Before the field could single out the 11th caution came out after Eckes shoved Jesse Love into Kvapil. That incident ended the day for Love and his team.

Gray and Allgaier led the field to green. Gray got another great restart. He got himself back out in front. Smith got underneath Allgaier to get back to second place. Eckes got turned by Mayer. Nick Sanchez, Josh Williams, Kyle Sieg, Myatt Snider, and Daniel Dye were also involved. That brought out the 12th caution of the day. The red flag fell to allow for cleanup of the track.

The green flag came back out with 12 laps to go, and Gray and Allgaier on the front row. Gray got another great jump and took back his lead. The 13th caution came out after Zilisch and Sawalich made contact. Sawalich got into the back of Zilisch, spinning him into Sawalich himself. Zilisch, whose car looked like a demo derby winner, limped his ride to pit road.

Finally The End

Gray and Allgaier brought the field back to green. Gray got a great jump, but so did Smith. Smith moved Gray out of his way to take the lead. Matt Dibenedetto then got turned around which brought out the 14th caution.

Smith and Jones brought out the green flag. Gray restarted behind Smith. He repaid Smith by moving him off of the racing line to retake the lead. Gray took the white flag in the lead. Smith sent everything he had into turn 3. Hill pushed Allgaier into the turn and got underneath the chaos. Austin Hill found himself out front to win the US Marine 250!

Marvin’s Moment:

This was a horrible show for the Xfinity series. Far too much aggression and not a single drop of patience. The series skipped Martinsville for years and maybe that was a good thing. The first half of the race was not too bad but as soon as the third stage began, the chaos and carnage ensued. I am sure there will be conversations about the lack of ability and respect. Follow the series next week in Darlington for Throwback Weekend.