0
0
By Michael Jaworecki
Friday night was a night to remember for some and a night to forget for others. It was Bristol Motor Speedway’s night to host the last NASCAR Xfinity race prior to the playoffs, the Food City 300. A race that would prove stressful for some and give others a sense of elation. This night would also be a special night as the field included a legend, a legend named Dale Earnhardt Jr.
A front row consisting of Chandler Smith and Justin Allgaier would bring the field to the green flag. Justin Allgaier would jump out to an early lead in stage one. Things did not look good early for eventual race winner Cole Custer when he had a brush with the wall causing a right front flat, bringing out the first caution of the night on lap two. After pitting for tire Cole Custer quickly started moving up through the field.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s night did not start well either. Starting a confident 13th in what might have been his final NASCAR Xfinity start, he could move to the front. To add to the trouble of moving up, radio issues early in the race forced Earnhardt Jr to pit losing more than 20 positions. Unfortunately the problem was not solved, and he would have to pit again to switch to a backup helmet. A pretty impressive feat, in that they were able to make the switch with all the wires, hoses and Hans hookups without losing lap.
Also of note, Sam Mayer started the Food City 300 last due to an unapproved adjustment prior to the start of the race, but quickly moved up through the field.
By lap 41 Justin Allgaier was having a strong run and had lapped up to 30th place but unfortunately Austin Green had an issue bouncing off the wall and catching the rear of the 7 car. Justin would have to pit for repairs. On this same caution Dale Earnhardt Jr. would again pit to switch helmets in an attempt clear up his communication issues and would restart 26th, last car on the lead lap. Chandler Smith would take the lead on the restart and would cruise on to a stage 1 win.
The start of stage two would have a whole new look as Ryan Seig and Brandon Jones would bring the field to green. Both of those drivers need a win to advance in the playoffs. Sam Mayer would pass both and jump out to a comfortable lead with Justin Allgaier minus a rear bumper cover running second.
After several stage one pit stops Dale Earnhardt Jr. would work his way up to 6th place. Lap 121 would see the #48 of Parker Kligerman going for a long slide bringing out another caution, even though Parker did not hit anything.
On the restart Sam Mayer would charge back to the lead. Justin Allgaier would follow until a bobble would allow Cole Custer the chance to move to second. They would race that way using the high groove until on lap 151 when Cole Custer dove low and took the lead.
Justin Allgaier’s night went from bad to worse after contact with the #18 of Sheldon Creed sent him into the inside wall. A lot of damage to the right front and the splitter plus rushing to leaving his pit he ran over the sawzall and dragging it out to the track.
Jeremy Clements, another driver who would need a win to get into the playoffs took the stage two lead late and cruised to the stage win over Cole Custer who made a huge comeback from an early flat tire, It was Jeremy’s first stage win.
The third and final stage would be the longest at 130 laps. Sheldon Creed would lead early in the third stage and would watch the battle for second in his rear-view mirror.
Justin Allgaier’s night would continue to get worse with a flat tire and spin bringing out the final caution of the night. After the restart Cole Custer would take the lead which put him in the regular season points lead over the struggling Justin Allgaier, dashing any hopes of Allgaier winning the regular season championship.
Rookie Jesse Love, who had never seen Bristol Motor Speedway before ran top well all night, finishing in 4th place right behind Chandler Smith.
The Food City 300 would finish the last 94 laps under green, the longest green flag run of the night. Cole Custer would lead all of those 94 laps taking the NASCAR Xfinity Food City 300 and the regular season Championship.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 Notes:
Cole Custer had no tires left at the end of the race when most teams did due to his early issues. He was lucky there would be no last caution as everyone behind him would have been able to get fresh rubber. Cole would lead a total of 104 laps, the most of any driver.
Shane Van Gisbergen who has 3 wins this year all on road courses struggled much of the night finishing 18th 1 lap down. He comented that they don’t have tracks like this in Australia. He went over to Dale Earnhardt Jr. righ after the race to congratulate him.
After dealing with radio issues all night Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a fast car staying in the top 6th for many laps trying to get by Ryan Truex #20 late. Dale Jr. was never able to make that pass and settled in for a 7th place finish. Lap cars kept taking the bottom lane and making a pass impossible.
Right behind that pair Brandon Jones #9 who needed to win to make the playoffs but was unable get any higher than 6th.
Matt DiBenedetto had his car die on lap 108 sending him to the pits but he would return and finish 34th many laps down.
Justin Allgaier had a night he would rather forget as 2 crashes and a spin relegated him to a 30th place finish 10 laps down. He started with a 43 point cushion in the regular season points championship standings but after a very trying night would finish 2nd in the championship.
Although he had a bad night, Justin Allgaier will actually start the playoffs in first 6 points ahead of Cole Custer.
Those 2 drivers will start the playoff ahead of Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Shane Van Gisbergen, Jesse Love, Sam Mayer Reily Herbst, Sheldon Creed, AJ Allmendinger, Sammy Smith and Parker Klingerman.
Parker Klingerman would earn enough stage points to lock into the playoffs before the third stage would begin.
The CW initial broadcast which was esential a re-branded NBC broadcast went well except there were issues with the broadcast not being on the app in some parts of the country, they will hopefully have that starightened out prior to Kansas.
Up next will be the first race in the round of 12 at Kansas Speedway with the Kansas Lottery 300 September 28th at 4:00PM EST.
