Noah Gragson Holds off Ty Gibbs to Win at Pocono: Two of the most determined, talented, young drivers in NASCAR put on a show for the ages in the closing laps of Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway with 24-year-old Noah Gragson ultimately holding off Ty Gibbs, 19, by the blink of an eye to take the victory. (Read more)(7-23-2022)
When taking the lead with 22 laps remaining, #9-Noah Gragson went on to hold off #54-Ty Gibbs to win the Explore The Pocono Mountains 225 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway. It’s Gragson’s first triumph at Pocono, while earning his third checkered flag of the season.
#54-Gibbs finished second, despite trading paint with #9-Gragson on the final lap. #8-Josh Berry finished third, with #16-AJ Allmendinger and #2-Sheldon Creed rounding out the top five.
#1-Sam Mayer placed sixth, with #7-Justin Allgaier, #21-Austin Hill, #11-Daniel Hemric and #07-Cole Custer completing the top 10.
#7-Allgaier picked up his sixth stage win of the season by winning the first stage. #9-Gragson earned his series-high seventh stage win in Stage 2.
There were nine lead changes among eight drivers and five cautions for 18 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was 123.438 mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Pocono Paint Schemes
Race Fast Facts – Pocono:
Noah Gragson won the 7th Annual Explore the Pocono Mountains 225, his eighth victory in 121 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his third victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2022.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in four races at Pocono Raceway.
Ty Gibbs (second) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Pocono Raceway. It is his 11th top-10 finish in 2022.
Josh Berry (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Pocono Raceway.
Sheldon Creed (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
AJ Allmendinger leads the point standings by 16 points over Justin Allgaier.
Xfinity Series Standings after Pocono (Race 19 of 33):
1)#54-Ty Gibbs, 4 wins
2)#7-Justin Allgaier, 3 wins
3)#9-Noah Gragson, 3 wins
4)#16-AJ Allmendinger, 2 wins
5)#8-Josh Berry, 2 wins
6)#21-Austin Hill, 2 wins
7)#19-Brandon Jones, 1 win
8)#1-Sam Mayer 543, +139
9)#98-Riley Herbst 518, +114
10)#11-Daniel Hemric 497, +93
11)#39-Ryan Sieg 461, +57
12)#10-Landon Cassill 451, +47
Currently below playoff cutline
13)#2-Sheldon Creed 404, -47
14)#68-Brandon Brown 385, -66
15)#23-Anthony Alfredo 374, -77
16)#02-Brett Moffitt 362, -89
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: #66-JJ Yeley (engine change)
For the first time this season, #7-Justin Allgaier will start from the pole in Saturday’s Explore The Pocono Mountains 225 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway. Allgaier was the final car out in qualifying, posting a speed of 168.669 mph.
#54-Ty Gibbs will start second (168.319 mph), with #16-AJ Allmendinger (167.948 mph), #19-Brandon Jones (167.898 mph) and #18-Sammy Smith (167.848 mph) rounding out the top five.
#2-Sheldon Creed will lineup sixth, as #8-Josh Berry, #21-Austin Hill, #9-Noah Gragson and #48-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. make up the top 10.
Did Not Qualify: #47-Brennan Poole.
See the complete Pocono Starting Lineup.
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Fast Facts – Pocono
Justin Allgaier won the Pole Award for the 7th Annual Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 with a lap of 53.359 seconds, 168.669 mph.
This is his seventh pole in 391 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his first pole and 12th top-10 start in 2022.
This is his first pole in seven races at Pocono Raceway. He becomes the fourth different driver in the
NASCAR Xfinity Series to win a pole at Pocono Raceway.
Ty Gibbs (second) posted his 14th top-10 start of 2022 and his first in two races at Pocono Raceway.
Brandon Jones (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Pocono Raceway. It is his 13th in 19 races this season.
Sheldon Creed (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Practice for the Explore The Pocono Mountains 225 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway is complete. After 20 minutes, the top five, slowest, news and notes:
#19-Brandon Jones 165.627 mph
#54-Ty Gibbs 165.493 mph
#98-Riley Herbst 165.414 mph
#18-Sammy Smith 165.080 mph
#7-Justin Allgaier 165.044 mph
Slowest: #47-Brennan Poole 158.554 mph
Most laps run: #18-Smith, 19
Notes: Entering the Tunnel Turn, #47-Poole cut a tire and got into the wall. Poole brought his car to pit road with heavy right side damage.
See full Pocono Practice Results.
Qualifying Order
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
There are 39 cars on the entry list for Saturday’s Explore The Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono Raceway. One car will miss the race.
Notables: #5-Stefan Parsons, #07-Cole Custer, #13-Timmy Hill, #18-Sammy Smith, #26-Santino Ferrucci, #44-Rajah Caruth, #45-Sage Karam, #48-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #77-Ronnie Bassett Jr.
See the full entry list on the Pocono Entry List.
