NXS Race Recap: Blue Cross NC 250

The Blue Cross NC 250 at the Charlotte Roval hosted the NASCAR Xfinity Series elimination race for the Round of 12. Four drivers’ championship hopes were to be concluded. Connor Zilisch started the race on the pole. Justin Allgaier joined him on the front row. Connor Mosack and Sammy Smith started on the second row. The stage lengths were 20 laps for the first and second stages, and 27 laps for the final.

Stage 1

Zilisch and Allgaier both got good jumps at the drop of the green flag. They made it into the infield portion before Zilisch inched out in front as they left turn four.

Connor Day got into the wall and sustained damage. His car developed a tire rub, which began to smoke.

Daniel Dye turned Anthony Alfredo after charging too hard into turn seven.

Zilisch got settled into the race and built his lead to over three seconds before lap 10. He did not slow down and was by far the fastest car on track.

Harrison Burton slowed down after having mechanical issues in his car. He ended up stopping in the exit of turn four, which brought out the first caution of the day.

Allgaier beat Zilisch off of pit road under the caution. The crew for Zilisch was unsure if they got all of the lug nuts tightened on the left front; however, he did not pit to get it fixed.

Race to the Stage Break

Nick Sanchez and Matt DiBenedetto brought the green flag back out on the front row. Sanchez got a great jump to take the lead into turn one. Zilisch passed his way to third after restarting in fifth. Allgaier could not make up ground like Zilisch did.

Zilisch passed Jeb Burton to take second. He quickly jumped on Sanchez and battled to take the lead back. Zilisch dove deeper into the back stretch chicane to retake his lead. Jesse Love and Allgaier were also able to get by Sanchez for second and third, respectively.

Sanchez continued to fall after Smith and Carson Kvapil passed him.

Zilisch went on to win the opening stage of the Blue Cross NC 250! Love and Allgaier finished the stage on the podium.

Stage 2

Zilisch and Love restarted on the front row. Zilisch got the better restart and took the lead into turn one. The field singled out through the infield section, and Zillisch pulled away by over a second before the back-stretch chicane.

Josh Williams stopped his car before turn five. That brought out the third caution of the evening.

With 10 to go in the stage, Zilisch and Love brought the field back to green. Zilisch darted out to the lead. Sammy drove to the outside of Love to challenge for second, but could not complete the pass before they made it to the infield portion of the track.

Carson Kvapil drove deep into turn seven and hit the side of Sheldon Creed. Kvapil got the worst of it as he drove away with a tire rub.

Five to Go

With five to go in stage two, Zilisch led by almost six seconds. Allgaier, in fourth, was over 10 seconds behind the leader.

Allgaier was the first car on pit road to flip the stage. He took four tires and fuel. That started a frenzy in the pits. Most of the others pitted before the pits closed. Sanchez made a mistake. He drove out of his pit box with his jack underneath the car. He had to serve a pass-through penalty.

Zilisch pitted on his next lap. That surrendered the lead to Jesse Love. Zilisch fell from the lead to 10th after his pit stop.

Love would take the field to the green-white-checkered flag to win stage two. Smith, Austin Hill, Creed, and Kvapil rounded out the top five.

Zilisch Continues to Impress

Zilisch and Allgaier brought the field back to green, and again, Zilisch took the lead into turn one. Christian Eckes fought Allgaier for second but could not complete the pass.

The field began to get aggressive as the sun went down. DiBenedetto, Kvapil, and Love took it three wide into the front stretch chicane. They all make it through, but Love conceded his position.

Creed, Brandon Jones, and Kvapil drove through the back stretch chicane three wide. Jones relinquished the spot, allowing Kvapil and Creed to go through.

On lap 48, Day spun around in turn seven. He was able to get it turned in the right direction and continue.

With 17 to go in the race, Zilisch was out in front of Allgaier by over four seconds. Allgaier was about a second and a half over Mosack in third.

Austin Hill began to complain of engine issues. He slowed down a bit as his team tried to help him troubleshoot, falling to 10th.

With 11 to go in the race, Nick Sanchez had to pit with a flat tire. Sammy Smith had to pit on the next lap. As soon as Smith stopped in his box, the caution came out. Sage Karam lost his right front tire. He dropped debris on the back stretch.

Zilisch stayed out, but Allgaier pitted under the yellow.

Overtime in Charlotte

Zilisch and Austin Green brought the green flag out. Green did a great job of holding second. Zilisch scampered back out front.

Alex Labbe got turned around in turn seven. Brennan Poole had nowhere to go and collided with Labbe.

Zilisch took the white flag. Before he could get around, the caution was thrown because of oil on the track in turn seven. Zilisch was declared the winner. Green, Smith, Kaz Grala, and Mosack rounded out the top five.

Taylor Gray, Nick Sanchez, Austin Hill, and Harrison Burton were eliminated from the playoffs.

Marvin’s Minute:

Connor Zilisch has done nothing but impress this season. He has proven he can win on the ovals and road courses. It’s a shame that he may still not win the championship. NASCAR needs to reward these dominant seasons, but the only thing we can talk about is the cutoff line. The booth seemed so focused on who was eliminated and not the tenth win for Zilisch. The Xfinity Series continues its playoffs in the Round of Eight in Las Vegas next week!