NXS Race Recap: Wawa 250

As is often the case in Daytona, weather delayed the start of the Wawa 250. A lightning hold was the first of some weather impacting the evening. When the race did get started, Sammy Smith and Sam Mayer began the race on the front row. Justin Allgaier and Austin Hill started the race in the second row. The stage lengths were 30 laps for the first two stages, with the final stage being 40 laps.

Before the race started, Parker Kligerman was prepared to replace the injured Connor Zilisch. Zilisch was ailing from a broken collarbone. He was set to begin the race and then pit, and get out to relinquish the seat to Kligerman. Zilisch was set to lead the field to green, but decided to drop to the rear of the field to easily pit for the driver replacement.

Just Getting Started

Smith and Mayer took the green flag. They got equal starts to the race. The inside line was the first to taper off as they raced side by side. The first six rows remained together. The jockeying for field position pushed Harrison Burton three wide with Nick Sanchez and Christian Eckes. It got sorted out as the middle and top lanes blended back together.

The first caution came out when some rain fell over the track. It was not heavy rain, but just some moisture in the air. Burton got turned around right before the caution came out. He was turned around on the back stretch and was able to keep it off the walls. Burton pitted immediately, and the caution came out while he was driving back to the pits.

Zilisch used this opportunity to complete the driver swap with Kligerman. The crew helped Zilisch get out of the car. They were able to successfully get it done without losing a lap to the field.

Rain, Rain Go Away

The race was red-flagged on lap 22 due to precipitation. The red flag was lifted after a 45-minute rain delay, and the race restarted with seven to go in stage one.

Mayer and Smith brought the green back out from the front row. They swapped the lead as the field behind them tried to inch their way ahead of the other line. Mayer was able to get an advantage after the inside line lost some of its members.

That inside group gathered back up and charged back to the lead. The outside line stayed compact and uniform, while the inside line was a bit more chaotic and unorganized. The inside line did prevail as Smith was in the lead when the caution came out, ending the stage.

Carson Kvapil got turned around off the nose of Jeb Burton. Dean Thompson, Blaine Perkins, and Nick Sanchez were also damaged in the incident.

Kligerman Looking Good

Jesse Love and Kligerman brought the field back to green. Love got a better jump but was not able to pull away. The inside line got broken up behind Kligerman. That allowed Love to pull out front. He dropped down to get in front of the inside line. Kligerman, with Smith pushing him, got to the inside of Love and was able to take the lead.

Kvapil made an unscheduled pit stop with a tire going down.

Kligerman made a mistake when he fell back in the middle of the two lines. He fell to eighth. Kligerman was able to rejoin the inside line without losing too many positions. Justin Haley assumed the lead in front of Love. Love tried to make a block but was instead shoved out into the lead. He began using both lanes to hold the top spot.

Another Wreck to End the Stage

Austin Hill used his superspeedway expertise to hold second with his teammate in front of him. They maintained the lead in front of Sheldon Creed. Hill got pushed to the inside line. Justin Allgaier, who was a ways back, pulled up to the trunk of Hill. Love switched to the inside line in front of Hill.

With three to go in the stage, the RCR teammates of Love and Hill were single-file in front of five rows of two-by-two. Hill dove below Love into turn three. Creed nicked the right rear of Hill, which got him loose. Allgaier drove underneath Hill as they drove into turn four. Behind them, Smith got turned by the left front bumper of J. Burton. Smith turned around on the track. William Sawalich, Smith, Aric Almirola, Taylor Gray, Thompson, and Taylor Gray were all involved in the incident.

Allgaier was declared the winner of stage two after NASCAR reviewed it. Love, Christian Eckes, Hill, and Creed would round out the top five.

Stage 3

Love and Hill were on the front row for the restart. Kligerman and Allgaier restarted sixth and seventh. Ryan Sieg pushed Hill out into the lead, and they both cleared Love. Hill moved down in front of Love on the inside line.

The fourth caution came out after Anthony Alfredo stopped on the track. His car stalled as they came back to the green flag. He attempted to get his car into the infield but could not find a way.

Creed and Hill brought the field back to the green flag. Sieg gave Creed a great push, and Creed was able to take the lead. Kligerman then pushed Sieg out front. Creed then moved to the outside line.

On lap 73, Rajah Caruth got turned around on the back stretch. He kept it off the wall, and no caution was thrown.

20 to Go

Kligerman pushed Sieg out in front of the field. Creed tried to hold off a charging Allgaier and Hill. The top two were able to use all lanes and hold command. The outside line began gaining. They pulled out to eight car lengths ahead of the inside line.

Hill recruited his teammate to pull the inside line. It paid off as they caught the leaders. Hill was able to get alongside Kligerman in second, but was unable to get out front.

The fifth caution came out when Tay. Gray lost his left rear tire. He got sideways in turn three, and Jeremy Clements hit him. Cesar Bacarella was also involved.

Kligerman and Sieg restarted the race on the front row. Sieg got a good jump, but Allgaier pushed Kligerman into the lead. The outside line was much more organized. Kligerman moved to the outside line. Hill moved to the inside line, so Kligerman did also to cover.

The sixth caution came out when Sieg was turned by Leland Honeyman. Sieg tried to block Honeyman, who had already filled the space. Matt DiBenedetto, Daniel Dye, Eckes, J. Burton, Almirola, Sawalich, Josh Williams, and Ryan Ellis were all involved.

Overtime!

Kligerman and Hill got overtime started out front. Allgaier pushed Kligerman into the lead. Hill blocked Honeyman, which slowed him down. Honeyman fell several rows on the outside line. Kligerman assumed control of the race. Smith tried to create an inside line to no avail. Hill got shuffled to the outside and lost spots.

Finally, the white flag came out with Kligerman out front. Allgaier pulled to the inside of the leader, and Smith pulled to the back of Kligerman to push him back out front. Hill shoved Nick Sanchez into the outside wall, which started a huge wreck. Kligerman was out front, so he got the win in the Wawa 250!

Marvin’s Minute:

While the record will not show that Kligerman got the win, we all know in our hearts that he is a winner. He has now won two races at Daytona this season, and neither of them will count.

I will admit that I do not enjoy superspeedway racing, but the NASCAR Xfinity Series always puts on a show, and I enjoyed the Wawa 250. I enjoy the Xfinity races more than the NASCAR Cup Series. What a great race from start to finish. It made me forget that there was even a rain delay. The series continues its schedule for the penultimate race of the season next week in Portland.