NXS Race Recap: Focused Health 302

NASCAR’s Xfinity Series began its round of eight in the Focused Health 302. Justin Allgaier was the fastest in qualifying, so he started the race on the pole. Connor Zilisch joined him on the front row. Brandon Jones and Aric Almirola started the race from the second row. Nicholas Sanchez rounded out the top five at the start. The stage lengths were 45 laps for the first two stages, with the final stage being 111 laps.

Allgaier Quick Early

Allgaier got a great launch at the initial start. He was clear in the lead, going into turn one. Almirola pushed Zilisch ahead of Jones. Nicholas Sanchez then got around Jones who fell to fifth. Almirola immediately pounced on Zilisch to take second. After being passed by Taylor Gray and falling out of the top five, Jones fought back and quickly got the spot back to stop the bleeding of spots.

Sheldon Creed fell ten positions early in the race. He complained that the car was driving on top of the race track, with no grip.

Zilisch got around Almirola, but the fight did not conclude. They traded the spot while trying to stay close to Allgaier out front.

Sam Mayer began to tell his crew that he was losing oil pressure. He bled positions trying to figure out the problem.

Jesse Love carved through the top five. He battled his way to the podium after passing Zilisch for third. Jones then attempted to circumvent Zilisch. Before he could, the first caution of the day came out. Debris was laid on the backstretch. Some cars in the back of the pack made their way down pit road.

Race to the Stage End

Allgaier and Almirola brought the field back to green. Love immediately made it three wide to battle for the lead. Almirola and Love got around Allgaier, who fell to fourth. Love got loose on the bottom line. Allgaier assumed the lead. Zilisch got around Love to take second.

Jones, once again, began to bleed spots. He fell to eighth quickly after the restart.

Zilisch tried to stay with Almirola but could not. Almirola would take the field to the green white checkered flag to win stage one in the Focused Health 302! Zilisch, Love, Allgaier, and Ryan Sieg rounded out the top five.

Gamblin’ on Almirola

Love and Allgaier got the race restarted on the front row. They got equal restarts and drove into turn one side by side. Zilisch got a great run on the front stretch and caught the rear of Almirola. Almirola used the push from the rear to take the lead. Zilisch powered by Love on the outside in turn one and two. They made contact with Love, reclaiming the second spot.

Love and Zilisch did not let Almirola get away. They stayed within a second of the leader. Love battled Almirola after catching his rear bumper. Love could not capitalize on the speed.

Zilisch fell about one-and-a-half seconds back from the leader.

On lap 76, Austin Hill clipped the apron in turn three. He slid up the track and lost the spot to Sieg.

With 10 to go in the stage, Love trailed Almirola by about half a second. He had speed but could not close the gap. Closing the stage, Love made a late charge, but it was not enough.

Almirola took his lead to the green-white-checkered to win stage two in the Focused Health 302.

Almirola is a Sure Thing

Zilisch and Love got the race restarted on the front row. Zilisch got a huge jump to take the lead into turn one. Love settled in second. Almirola, after restarting in fourth, got by Hill to take third.

Almirola caught the back of Love and began to challenge for the position. He used the outside line through turns three and four to get a big run down the front stretch. He powered by Love on the outside and immediately caught the back of Zilisch. Almirola got to the outside of Zilisch, and they made contact. Aric Almirola finally got around to take the lead out of turn two.

Almirola quickly pulled away from Zilisch by three-quarters of a second.

With 62 to go, Sheldon Creed had to pit with a tire vibration. That started a flurry of pit stops. Harrison Burton pitted one lap later; Taylor Gray was the next to pit. Allgaier and Mayer pitted with 57 left in the race. Mayer had a slow stop after the car fell off the jack.

The top three, Almirola, Love, and Zilisch, all got on and off pit road without incident. The pit stops brought the three closer together. Love was able to get out in front of the presumed leaders.

After the rest of the cars pitted, Love assumed the lead. Zilisch was able to get around Almirola to take second. Zilisch tried to make a run at the lead but had to be smart about it with Almirola on his rear bumper.

After Pit Stops

Love caught some lapped traffic and had a tough time getting through it. Zilisch pounced on the mistake by Love. As soon as the pass was made, Dean Thompson got turned around in 22nd. That brought out the yellow flag.

With 24 to go, Zilisch and Almirola brought the field back to green. Zilisch got the better jump and took the lead into turn one. Love tried to pass Zilisch on the inside but couldn’t. That allowed Almirola to get to the outside of the leader. Almirola and Zilisch fought for the lead. Zilisch finally cleared for the lead.

Almirola gathered himself and began his charge for the lead. He began closing the gap to Zilisch who had pulled away by almost a second. Almirola was faster than Zilisch and brought the lead to under two tenths of a second with 11 to go.

Zilisch made a mistake in turn one and two. Zilisch tried to side draft Almirola but they made contact. That allowed Almirola to snatch the lead. Zilisch got loose off of turn four which allowed Almirola to pull away.

Zilisch closed the gap to the leader. He was sliding all around the track. He was fast but could not make the pass. Almirola took the white flag and then the checkered flag to win the Focused Health 302! Zilisch, Allgaier, Corey Day, and Nicholas Sanchez finished in the top five.

Marvin’s Minute:

Joe Gibbs Racing has announced that Aric Almirola will pilot the No. 19 car in the championship race at Phoenix. That combo is the only thing that can beat Connor Zilisch. A NASCRA Cup Series regular for 16 years, in the best car in the series, is the only thing that can slow down the youngster in Zilisch. Justin Bonsignore was supposed to drive that race, but I would be willing to bet that Joe Gibbs decided to get the big dog to win the car owners’ championship. The series continues next week at Talladega!