Cloudy skies hover above the 40 drivers scheduled to take the green flag in this evening’s race. The stages are 60-60-130. A competition caution is scheduled for lap 25 of 250.
The suit who was tasked with saying the most famous words in motorsports tried to bring it. It was kind of lame since, but he at least tried. Too much marketing mixed in for my taste – regardless of the fact it was screamed.
Cindric (22) gets the early lead.
On lap 3 of 250 NBCSN went to the bumper-cam out the back window to show Ty ‘Little Joe’ Gibbs (54) bumping leader Austin Cindric (22). On lap 7 of 250 another bumper-cam shot, possibly of the same two. I saw mostly the track moving past the camera. On lap 7 of 250 it transitions to a split-screen of the lead cars and the battle for fifth. They’re bored early. Me too.
Caution on lap 14 of 250 for a spin by Preston Pardus (90).
Restarting on lap 20 of 250.
MRN reports the competition caution has been rescheduled for lap 30 of 250.
The 22 car gets the early jump for the lead.
Competition caution.
Restarting on lap 35 of 250 with Cindric and AJ Allmendinger (16) on the front row.
The 22 car again gets the jump.
Caution on lap 47 of 250 for Sam Mayer (8) showering sparks with damage on the front right of the car. NASCAR delayed throwing the caution for some reason. Mayer’s car was quite damaged, yet the field stayed green. Eventually the caution was displayed.
Restarting on lap 53 of 250 with Cindric and Justin Allgaier (7) on the front row.
Cindric in the 22 car streaks off again.
Stage one ends as it began with Cindric up front.
Fans in the stands are in costume. NBCSN is showing a guy dressed as a turtle.
Differing pit strategies are in play with some cars staying out and some pitting.
The skies are clearing as the sun sets.
Restarting on lap 68 of 250 with Noah Gragson (9) and Ty Gibbs (54) up front.
Gragson gets the early lead.
Noah Gragson (9) wins stage two.
Justin Haley’s (11) left rear caught on fire. There may be brake fluid coming out onto the rotors causing the fire.
Restarting on lap 130 of 250 with Noah Gragson (9) and Harrison Burton (20) up front.
On lap 132 of 250 Justin Haley (11) heads to the garage with zero brakes.
Noah and Harrison race door-to-door until lap 133 of 250 when Noah gets the early lead.
Caution on lap 149 of 250 for a flat right front for Bayley Currey (15).
Justin Haley (11) is back on track many laps down.
Restarting on lap 155 of 250 with Noah Gragson (9) and Ty ‘Little Joe’ Gibbs (54) up front.
Noah gets the early lead.
Harrison Burton (20) is battling door-to-door with teammate Ty Gibbs (54). Austin Cindric (22) is behind them.
Ty Gibbs finally clears Harrison Burton on lap 161 of 250. Burton needs to win to advance. Ty Gibbs is not running for a championship. Cindric (22) and Allmendinger (16) have clinched their advance to the final four.
On lap 169 of 250 Little Joe is dogging Noah’s bumper big time.
Caution on lap 178 of 250 for a spin by Ryan Ellis (99).
MRN says Jeb Burton (10) slightly blocked Noah Gragson (9) in his pit box causing Noah to lose a couple of positions on pit road.
Restarting on lap 184 of 250 with Spencer Boyd (52), who stayed out, and Ty Gibbs (54) on the front row.
Gibbs gets the early jump.
Noah Gragson gets second position taking them three-wide on the restart.
Harrison Burton tags the wall.
Caution on lap 186 of 250 for a spin by Myatt Snider (2).
Harrison Burton (20) is making hand gestures at Spencer Boyd.
Dave Moody of MRN reports Ryan Sieg (39) came onto pit road for a quick fire extinguishing.
Restarting on lap 192 of 250 with Ty Gibbs (54) and Noah Gragson (9) up front.
Caution on lap 192 of 250 for a wrecking involving Spencer Boyd (52), Jeb Burton (10), Myatt Snider (2), Michael Annett (1), Riley Herbst (98), Brett Moffitt (02). Riley Herbst turned Michael Annett into Spencer Boyd and Jeb Burton.
On lap 195 of 250 the cars are stopped on the track. Annett’s car has leaked fluids all over the track. Red flag is out. Caution is out after more than ten minutes.
MRN ran through the changes coming in 2022: Austin Cindric, Harrison Burton, and Justin Haley will go Cup racing; Josh Berry will drive the JRM 8 car alongside returning teammates Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson; Brandon Jones will return to Joe Gibbs Racing 19 car. Â JRM driver Michael Annett is retiring at the end of this season. Â AJ Allmendinger will return to Niece Motorsports. Â Daniel Hemric will replace Justin Haley at Niece becoming Allmendinger’s teammate. Â Sheldon Creed will move up from the truck series into the Richard Childress Racing 2 car replacing Myatt Snider. He will have a teammate as Austin Hill moves up from the truck series into a second RCR car.
Restarting on lap 200 of 250 with Ty Gibbs (54) and Noah Gragson (9) on the front row.
Ty gets early lead.
Caution on lap 200 of 250 as Ty Gibbs spins in front of Harrison Burton (20). Cindric (22) pushed Noah Gragson (9) into Ty Gibbs (54) which sent Ty (54) around and Harrison Burton (20) hit Gibbs who was sitting sideways on the track. Justin Allgaier (7) had contact with teammate Gragson (9) as Noah dodged Gibbs (54).
Restarting on lap of 250 with Noah Gragson (9) and Austin Cindric (22) on the front row.
Noah gets the early lead.
Caution on lap 218 of 250 for debris from Harrison Burton’s (20) car which has the front quarter panel peeled away and hanging out beside the car.
Harrison Burton’s (20) jack was rolling down the track by itself. He brought out the caution three times basically – he brought out the initial caution for debris, when they lined them back up additional debris fell off his car causing the pace car to turn the lights back on, then he carried his jack out of the pits onto the track and causing the lights to come on again.
Restarting on lap 224 of 250 with Noah Gragson (9) and Justin Allgaier (7) on the front row.
Gragson gets the early lead. Daniel Hemric (18) takes second from Justin Allgaier (7).
Daniel Hemric (18) passes Noah Gragson (9) on lap 231 of 250.
Caution on lap 244 of 250 for a spin by Justin Haley (11).
Restarting in overtime with Daniel Hemric (18) and Noah Gragson (9) on the front row.
Noah Gragson takes the early lead. The caution comes out for a spin by Josh Berry (31).
Restarting again in overtime with Noah Gragson (9) and Austin Cindric (22) up front.
Noah gets the early lead.
Noah Gragson take the white flag.
Noah Gragson wins holding off Austin Cindric.
The final four for the series are:
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- Austin Cindric (22)
- AJ Allmendinger (16)
- Daniel Hemric (18)
- Noah Gragson (9)
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The 9 crew climbs the fence and salute the fans.
Noah is emotional doing his tv interview.
Noah is still emotional during his radio interview.
He burned the right rear tires off the car, so the team is trying to lift the car to get a jack underneath it.
Justin Allgaier (7) is gutted. He won’t make the final four.
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