Aric Almirola claims emotional NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Martinsville: With a dramatic victory Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway, Aric Almirola removed an asterisk from his career record and collected a $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus in the process. With considerable help—perhaps unintentional—from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Sheldon Creed after an overtime restart, Almirola grabbed the lead from Sam Mayer and won the DUDE Wipes 250 under caution when Riley Herbst, pole winner Brandon Jones and Ryan Ellis wrecked in Turn 2 on the final lap.[Read More]
#20-Aric Almirola won the Xfinity Series Season race at Martinsville Speedway Saturday night. The win is his 1st win of the year, 1st at Martinsville, and 5th career Xfinity win.
#1-Sam Mayer finished 2nd followed by #81-Chandler Smith, #88-Carson Kvapil, #7-Justin Allgaier, #18-Sheldon Creed, #00-Cole Custer, #8-Sammy Smith, #2-Jesse Love, and #11-Josh Williams.
Pole winner #9-Brandon Jones had to start from the rear for unapproved adjustments and finished 27th.
The race ended after the first Overtime attempt. Almirola took the lead from Mayer on the restart and was in the lead when the caution came out on the final lap. Almirola’s win gave him the $100,000 Dash4Cash win as well. Dash4Cash drivers next week at Texas will be #1-Sam Mayer, #81-Chandler Smith, #7-Justin Allgaier and #18-Sheldon Creed.
Stage 1 was won by #20-Aric Almirola. Stage 2 was won by #7-Justin Allgaier.
There were 15 lead changes among 8 drivers and 11 cautions for 66 yellow flag laps. There was a 10 minute red flag for track clean up following an accident on lap 72.
The average speed of the race was: 61.984mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Martinsville Paint Schemes
Race Fast Facts – Martinsville:
Aric Almirola won the DUDE Wipes 250, his fifth victory in 108 Xfinity Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2024.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in one race at Martinsville Speedway.
Sam Mayer (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in six races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2024.
Chandler Smith (third) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Martinsville Speedway.
Jesse Love (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Chandler Smith leads the point standings by 35 points over Cole Custer
Xfinity Series Standings after Martinsville (Race 7 of 33):
1) #81-Chandler Smith 302 points (2 wins)
2) #00-Cole Custer 267, -35
3) #21-Austin Hill 261, -41 (2 wins)
4)#2-Jesse Love 226, -76
5) #7-Justin Allgaier 223, -79
6) #98-Riley Herbst 206, -96
7) #48-Parker Kligerman 202 -100
8) #16-AJ Allmendinger 192, -110
9) #8-Sammy Smith 190, -112
10) #18-Sheldon Creed 182, -120
11) #5-Anthony Alfredo 159, -143
12) #97-Shane Van Gisbergen, 155, -117
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Race Updates:
Lap 251 – Caution is out before the checkered flag, but Almirola had taken the white and his is the winner. #1-Mayer finishes second, #81-third, #88-Kvapil fourth, and #7-Allgaier fifth. Almirola wins the Dash4Cash as well.
Lap 250 – White flag for #20-Almirola.
Lap 249 – Green for the first attempt at Overtime: #1-Mayer, #20-Almirola, #18-Creed, #81-Smith, and #88-Kvapil the top 5.
Lap 244 – Caution out again with #1-Mayer the leader, #20-Almirola second. Caution for an accident among several drivers including: #07-Snider, #51-Clements. #27-Burton, #38-DiBenedetto.
Lap 243 – #20-Almirola back to the lead.
Lap 241 – #81-Smith takes the lead, #1-Mayer to 2nd.
Lap 240 – Green back out. #20-Almirola leads #81-Smith.
Lap 235 – Caution out for #39-Sieg, who spun around in turn 1.
Lap 231 – Just 20 laps remaining, Almirola has pulled out to a 2.2 second lead over #81-Smith. #1-Mayer is up to third, followed by #18-Creed, and #00-Custer.
Lap 216 – Smith battled Almirola for the lead for a few laps on the restart, but Almirola now has a lead of a half second.
Lap 204 – Green with 47 to go. #20-Almirola, #18-Creed, #81-Smith, #8-Smith, and #00-Custer the top 5.
Lap 197 – 8th caution of the night is out. #6-Smithley around in turn 1.
Lap 186 – On older tires, Kligerman is dropping back through the field. He’s now 18th.
Lap 178 – Almirola around Kligerman to retake the lead.
Lap 177 – Back to green with Kligerman leading Almirola.
Lap 173 – Most drivers pit. #48-Kligerman stays out. Almirola is off pit road first again, #18-Creed second, then #00-Custer third.
Lap 171 – Caution is out for debris in turn two.
Lap 151 – 100 laps remaining. #20-Almirola leads #81-Smith by 1 second.
Lap 132 – Green for the start of the final stage 119 laps to go. Dash4Cash drivers are: #20-Almirola in 1st, #81-Smith is 8th, #2-Love in 12th and #48-Kligerman in 29th.
Lap 124 – Leaders come to pit road. Off pit road: #20-Almirola, #8-Smith, #18-Creed, #00-Custer, and #81-Smith.
Lap 121 – Caution out for the end of stage 2. #7-Allgaier wins it. He’s followed by #20-Almirola, #8-Smith, #88-Kvapil, #00-Custer, #18-Creed, #9-Jones, #81-Smith, #27-Burton, and #29-Sieg.
Lap 112 – #7-Allgaier takes the lead for the first time tonight.
Lap 101 – 100 laps complete, 20 remaining in stage 2. #8-Smith continues to lead over #7-Allgaier, #88-Kvapil, #20-Almirola, and #00-Custer.
Lap 91 – Green flag is back out. #8-Smith is still the leader.
Lap 86 – Caution for a spin by #48-Kligerman after a tire went down.
Lap 80 – Back to green. #8-Smith, #1-Mayer, #7-Allgaier, #18-Creed, and #88-Kvapil the top 5.
Lap 72 – Red flag is out for track cleanup. The red flag was lifted after 9 minutes, 46 seconds.
Lap 70 – Back to green for the start of the second stage. #1-Mayer leads and there’s a big wreck on the restart. Several drivers involved including #21-Hill, #15-Deegan, #16-Allmendinger, #31-Reztlaff, #42-Honeyman, #51-Clements, #26-Heim, #91-Weatherman, #9-Jones, and #19-Gray.
Lap 64 – Pit road is full of drivers than had not pitted. #1-Mayer stayed out and will assume the lead. #20-Almirola is off pit road first. #48-Kligerman too fast on pit road.
Lap 61 – Caution is out for the end of Stage 1. #20-Almirola, one of the Dash4Cash drivers, wins it. He is followed by #18-Creed, #00-Custer, #1-Mayer, #16-Allmendinger, #5-Alfredo, #29-Sieg, #21-Hill, 27-Burton, and #31-Petzlaff.
Lap 43 – Back to green. #20-Almiolra still the leader. #35-Ogata goes to the garage with a mechanical issue.
Lap 40 – A few drivers on pit road for service during the caution.
Lap 37 – Caution for a spin and contact with the wall by #15-Hailie Deegan after contact from #44-Brennan Poole. #91-Weatherman also on the damaged vehicle clock.
Lap 29 – #20-Almirola takes the lead from Custer.
Lap 26 – With 25 laps complete, #00-Custer still leads. #20-Almirola now up to second, while #18-Creed has fallen to third.
Lap 14 – Back to green with the top 5 being #00-Custer, #18-Creed, #20-Almirola, #27-Burton, and #5-Alfredo.
Lap 10 – Caution is out for a spin by Dexter Bean.
Lap 2 – #00-Custer leads the first lap with #18-Creed second after #9-Jones had to start from the rear.
7:49pm/et – Green flag.
7:39pm/et – Engines are fired
7:30pm/et – Opening ceremonies are underway
Race information:
Broadcast: FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250 laps / 131.5 miles
Stages: 60 / 120 / 250
Average time of race: 2:17:14
Pit road speed: 30 mph
Caution car speed: 35 mph
Fuel Window: 154 laps
Timing (all times local & subject to change)
Invocation: 7:30:20 p.m.
National Anthem: 7:31:00 p.m.
Command: 7:38:00 p.m.
Green Flag: 7:47:00 p.m.
Cars to the rear: #7-Justin Allgaier(unapproved adjustments), #8-Sammy Smith (unapproved adjustments), #9-Brandon Jones (unapproved adjustments), #35-Akinori Ogata(unapproved adjustments), #42-Leland Honeyman (unapproved adjustments), #53-Ryan Ellis (unapproved adjustments), #81-Chandler Smith (unapproved adjustments)
Pit Stall Selections
#9-Brandon Jones sat on the pole, his first with JR Motorsports this season, for Saturday’s Dude Wipes 250 Xfinity Series race. It is his ninth career pole and second at Martinsville Speedway. #9-Jones tied the track record at 96.151mph.
#9-Jones however, said the team may be forced to drop to the rear if they swap out brake rotors.
#00-Cole Custer will start second, followed by #18-Sheldon Creed, #27-Jeb Burton, #7-Justin Allgaier, #20-Aric Almirola, #5-Anthony Alfredo, #39-Ryan Sieg, #1-Sam Mayer, and #21-Austin Hill.
Did Not Qualify: #74-Ryan Vargas.
See the complete Martinsville Starting Lineup.
Qualifying Fast Facts:
Brandon Jones won the Pole Award for the DUDE Wipes 250 with a lap of 19.694 seconds, 96.151mph.
This is his ninth pole in 276 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2024.
This is his second pole in eight races at Martinsville Speedway.
Cole Custer (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2024 and his third in three races at Martinsville Speedway.
Sheldon Creed (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his fifth in seven races this season.
Jesse Love (11th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR)
Qualifying Order
Practice for the DUDE Wipes 250 Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway is complete. After two, 15-minute groups, the top five, slowest, news and notes: #00-Cole Custer 91.949 mph
#16-AJ Allmendinger 93.873
#31-Parker Retzlaff 93.308
#8-Sammy Smith 93.253
#18-Sheldon Creed 93.152
#11-Josh Williams 93.148
Slowest: #81-Chandler Smith, 59.318, as he hit the wall.
Most laps run: #88-Carson Kvapil, 41
Notes: #81-Smith will not qualify after damage to his car. The team will take the car back to Charlotte-area shop for repairs before Saturday’s race.
See full Martinsville Practice Results.
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
There are 39 drivers/teams on the entry list for the DUDE Wipes 250 Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway. One car will miss the race.
Notables: #6-Garrett Smithley, #07-Myatt Snider, #14-Logan Bearden, #19-Taylor Gray, #20-Aric Almirola, #26-Corey Heim, #35-Akinori Ogata, #38-Matt DiBenedetto, #53-Joey Gase, #74-Ryan Vargas, #88-Carson Kvapil, #92-Dexter Bean
See the full Martinsville Entry List.
Martinsville At-Track Schedule
