Xfinity Series: Aric Almirola wins with last-corner move at Phoenix

15 hours ago5 min read

Written by Bailey Defoor

In the closest finish of the season thus far, Aric Almirola comes out on top in a drag race to the line ahead of Alex Bowman and Brandon Jones. Here’s how it all went down.

As it unfolded

Bowman led the field at the start, with Sheldon Creed on the outside.

Taylor Gray used the shortcut at Phoenix and was able to break into the top four by the end of the opening lap.

William Sawalich, who had started at the rear after a post-qualifying change, made up places and jumped into the top 30 in the first stages of the race.

Almirola also worked through the field to second place.

Throughout the stage, Bowman was consistently a tenth to a tenth-and-a-half faster than the rest of the field, and by Lap 23, Bowman was catching the backmarkers.

The entire state went by with green flag racing, and Bowman took the stage win by leading all 45 laps so far.

As the stage ended, Parker Retzlaff, who was running in 11th, suffered a power issue and dropped to 21st.

Stage 1 Results:

No. 17 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
No.19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)
No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)
No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)
No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)
No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing)
No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

Almirola came out first off pitlane, and Bowman came in second.

Also, Zilisch overshot his stall during the pitstops and had a lengthy stop, dropping him to 21st.

Green flag racing resumed on Lap 55. Almirola had a good getaway and kept the lead.

On Lap 57, Anthony Alfredo stopped on pit road with an axel issue, bringing out the first caution of the race. Alfredo goes back to the garage and retires from the race.

On Lap 62, the green flag flew once again as Sammy Smith made the fight for the lead four wide.

At the start of Lap 63, Austin Hill, Creed and Dean Thompson. Hill almost hit the wall and went into the side of Creed, collecting Thompson.

The race went back to green flag racing on Lap 72, Almirola leading Bowman, but got a little loose at Turn 2 and opened the door for Allgaier. Almirola came back up to the lead, and they went side by side on the next lap. Allgaier to the lead on Lap 76.

Almirola got closer to Allgaier as Bowman and Jones joined the fight for the front.

On Lap 82, Almirola resumed the lead, and Allgaier took it back one lap later. Bowman and Jones fell back slightly.

Allgaier narrowly takes the stage win.

Stage 2 Results:

No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)
No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 17 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)
No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)
No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)
No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)

Jones makes up two places off pit road. Allgaier was still on top.

The race restarts on Lap 100 with Allgaier in front and Almirola jumping Jones.

Carson Kvapil and Zilisch fought back and forth for positions in the top ten.

Almirola was only a half a second behind Allgaier by Lap 140 and took the lead momentarily. They continued trading the lead back and forth for a while.

On Lap 146, Smith slowed down with a problem. At the same time, Dawson Cram hit the back of Smith’s car and suffered a flat. On his way to pit road, Cram hit the wall, bringing out the fifth caution. Smith only suffered rear-fender damage and did not need to pit.

Under caution, many drivers pit, including Allgaier, Almirola, Jones, and Bowman. In the pitstop race, Bowman makes up two places, and Almirola loses out on five places. Sawalich also benefited from pit road, coming out in ninth place.

With 46 to go, Allgaier takes the inside line, Bowman on the outside as the race is led to green. Allgaier and Gray get good launches, but Bowman doesn’t let Allgier get away. Almirola also worked up to third place.

Bowman takes the lead for a moment on Lap 158, but Allgaier takes it back. Almirola closes in on the top two, making it a three-way fight at the front.

Bowman started to fall back and fell into a battle with Almirola for second. Almirola coming victorious in this battle.

Kvapil almost had a caution thrown after his brake rotor had an issue and flattened his tyre, but he made it to pit road.

On Lap 196, Nick Leitz had a tyre problem and spun into the wall, bringing out another caution and sending the race into overtime.

Allgaier decided to go low for the restart, so Almirola lined up on the outside.

With two laps remaining, the race goes green again. Allgaier tries to push Almirola up, but into the fist turn, Allgaier goes loose and allows Bowman and Jones to go up the center.

At the line, Almirola wins in a drag race ahead of Bowman and Jones.