NASCAR OAPS Race Recap: Focused Health 250

The usual suspects were on the front row for the start of the Focused Health 250 in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen showed that their speed had not gone anywhere. Austin Hill and Brandon Jones occupied the second row for the race start. Last week’s winner, Sheldon Creed, started the race at Circuit of the Americas in ninth. The stage lengths were 20 laps for the first two stages, with the final stage being 25 laps.

They Dominated

Hill wasted no time, taking the front row three wide into turn one. He was able to take second briefly. SVG took the lead into the esses while Zilisch was able to reclaim second from Hill. Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil got around Brandon Jones, who fell two spots early.

Allgaier drove underneath Hill in turn one to move into third. Allgaier then conceded the spot right back to Hill.

Jeremy Clements got off track in the esses. He was able to stay out of the gravel and keep going.

Zilisch and SVG pulled away from the field as they battled for the lead. They had more than a three-second lead over Hill. SVG surrendered the lead in turn one. Zilisch built his lead to three-quarters of a second.

Baltazar Leguizamon got turned around on the track. He was able to get fired back up and keep going.

Sammy Smith began the pit stops with four to go in the stage.

SVG was able to get back around Zilisch before pulling into the pits. Hill assumed the lead and went on to win stage one in the Focused Health 250! Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Jones, and Jesse Love rounded out the top five.

Late Restart for Mayer

Zilisch and SVG got the race restarted from the front row. Brent Crews took the front row three wide into turn one. Smith made them four wide out of it. Crews took the field into the esses in the lead with Smith following him. Zilisch and SVG fell to third and fourth. Smith tried to pass for the lead on the outside of turn one but could not complete it. Zilisch used the opportunity to take the runner-up spot. Smith then fell to SVG and into fourth.

Zilisch locked up his right front tire and lost several spots as a result. He expressed concerns of mechanical issues.

SVG caught the back of the leader and began to harass him for the spot. He gained ground in the esses and completed the pass for the lead in turn 6b. Crews then got passed by Smith and Mayer. Creed tried to pass Crews on the outside, but they got together, and Creed got turned. Creed fell to 15th.

Mayer got around Smith in the esses to take the runner-up position.

Leguizamon brought out the second caution of the day when he got buried in the turn one gravel and tire wall.

With two to go in the stage, Kvapil and Jones restarted the race out front. Kvapil got the lead out of turn one. Mayer caught Kvapil and quickly made the pass for the lead. Allgaier closed the gap and took second. Mayer led the field to the green-white-checkered flag to win stage two in the Focused Health 250! Allgaier, Kvapil, Love, and SVG finished the stage in the top five.

He Did It, Again

Mayer and Love restarted on the front row. Hill pushed Love on the front stretch, but Mayer took the lead out of turn one. The field jockeyed for positions as they single-filed out.

Love got to the back of Mayer and tried to take the top position. SVG used the chance to pass them both to retake the lead. Love got around Mayer to take second.

With 14 to go, Allgaier had to make an unscheduled pit stop with a flat tire. Allgaier was thirteenth at the time.

Sage Karam slowed on the track with a broken right front suspension. That brought out the fourth caution of the day.

With five to go, Allgaier and Nick Sanchez restarted the race on the front row. Mayer dove to the inside to take second. SVG drove around everyone to take the lead out of turn one. Hill got by Mayer to take the runner-up spot.

One lap later, Harrison Burton spun around in the esses. Mayer got into turn 6a too deep and hit the tire barrier. Rajah Caruth got trapped behind Mayer and also went into the barrier.

Zilisch caught the back of Day and Love. He quickly got around Love. He then got turned by Day in the esses. Zilisch got significant damage to his right front.

SVG saw the white flag, and then the checkered flag to win the Focused Health 250! Hill, Smith, Love, and Day rounded out the top five.

Marvin’s Minute:

SVG brought his speed and experience to COTA. He is the best road course racer in NASCAR. Zilisch was probably the closest on speed, but several misfortunes kept him from contending. A few series regulars that impressed were Jesse Love, Austin Hill, and Sammy Smith. The “ringers” make the regulars better and more understanding of what it takes to race on the road courses. I will always argue that the NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the lower series improve the product. Tune in next week as the series continues its schedule in Phoenix.

I do want to add this:

It bothers me that the media talks so much about SVG breaking Gordon’s road course records. Not only was SVG a far more experienced driver on that type of track, but he also benefits greatly from having many more road courses per year. I am not taking anything away from SVG. I am only suggesting that comparing him to Gordon is unfair to Jeff. NASCAR is very different now than it was at the peak of Jeff Gordon. Again, I am not taking anything away from the Kiwi. I just think that he should be the best road course racer in NASCAR, and I am not surprised when he dominates. He has also improved on ovals better than I thought he would.

I am done with my rant!