Shortly after the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series concluded its doubleheader Saturday afternoon, it was the NASCAR Xfinity Series turn at the 1.5-mile tri-oval Kansas Speedway. Michael Annett won the pole by a draw, and starting next to him was Brandon Jones. Before the race got underway, Tommy Joe Martins was the lone driver starting in the rear with unapproved adjustments. Justin Haley rolled off of pit road late with radio issues, and Myatt Snider’s car went behind the wall with no power. Luckily for Snider, he made it out just in time for the start of the race.
We're green at @kansasspeedway! Catch the #KSL250 right now on NBCSN or stream the race at https://t.co/593lUVrknA! pic.twitter.com/xo3rNId2KM — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 25, 2020
On the first lap of the race, Michael Annett lost the lead to Brandon Jones. He led for nine laps before Austin Cindric passed him on the front stretch to take the lead. Meanwhile, Michael Annett, who started on the pole, was now sitting in eleventh place. Cindric was still the leader as the competition caution came out at lap 21. Chad Finchum got the free pass.
NEW LEADER: 2️⃣2️⃣@AustinCindric powers past @BrandonJonesRac to take the early lead in the #KSL250. pic.twitter.com/RY5eqmje6M — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 25, 2020
During the caution, several cars came to pit road, with most of them only making adjustments to their cars. The race got back underway on lap 26. During the restart, Kaz Grala was running in fourth place when he got into the wall and fell to ninth place. Austin Cindric was still the leader and would go on to win stage one, his sixth stage win of the season. Myatt Snider got the free pass.
During the caution, all of the leaders came to pit road for four tires and fuel with Austin Cindric winning the race off of pit road. Cindric would lead the field back to green on lap 47 to start stage two. On the same lap, Ross Chastain briefly got the lead before Cindric took it right back. Allgaier took over second but would lose the second spot to Harrison Burton, who was now chasing Austin Cindric for the lead. Cindric was able to hold onto the lead and take stage two with Jeffrey Earnhardt getting the free pass.
The battle is on late in Stage 2! @HBurtonRacing is doing all he can to get around @AustinCindric for the top spot. pic.twitter.com/iXfboo57Hm — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 25, 2020
During the caution, all of the leaders came to pit road for four tires and fuel with Austin Cindric winning the race off of pit road. Brett Moffitt had an uncontrolled tire and had to restart in the rear of the field. The third and final stage got underway on lap 87 with Austin Cindric in the lead. Justin Allgaier was charging toward the lead when he got loose and now began battling Harrison Burton for second place.
Can @AustinCindric complete the sweep? Will @HBurtonRacing or @J_Allgaier play the role of spoiler? The final stage from @kansasspeedway is underway on NBCSN and https://t.co/593lUVrknA! pic.twitter.com/FZwgW9O8XM — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 25, 2020
While this was going on, Cindric began to pull away. He had a 2.5 second lead on Harrison Burton as scheduled green-flag pit stops were near on lap 113. Justin Haley pitted on lap 125 to start the green flag pit cycles. Cindric would pit a couple of laps later with a 1.302 second lead on Burton. Harrison Burton would also pit with Cindric. A lap later, Justin Allgaier would pit with Ross Chastain and Riley Herbst. By lap 143, the only cars who did not pit were Noah Gragson and Ryan Sieg. Both of those guys would pit a couple of later to complete the pit cycle as Austin Cindric resumed the lead.
.@AustinCindric leads, but @HBurtonRacing is closing! Catch the final 15 laps from @kansasspeedway right now on NBCSN! pic.twitter.com/Tl0h6OjpNQ — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 25, 2020
Harrison Burton was right on the bumper of Austin Cindric. When Burton tried to pass him for the lead, he took the air off him. Cindric slid up and got into the outside wall off of turn two as Burton took the lead. Burton was well ahead of the rest of the field until Joe Graf Jr. got into the wall off of turn four to bring out the fourth caution of the day and send the race into overtime. During the caution, Ryan Sieg stayed out while the rest pitted. Austin Cindric won the race off of pit road. The first overtime attempt was underway on lap 165. Just as the cars were heading off of turn two, Jesse Little spun his car to bring out the fifth caution of the day.
A @jesselittle97 spin brings out the yellow. (… we'll have another overtime restart … ) 😨 pic.twitter.com/StrWKfFDse — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 25, 2020
The second overtime got underway at lap 174 with Ryan Sieg still in the lead. Austin Cindric took the lead away from Sieg as well as Harrison Burton, who passed Seig for second place. Brandon Jones, who restarted in seventh place, made his way up the front, getting by Burton for second and was closing in on Cindric. He passed Cindric on the last lap off of turn two as Cindric made contact with the outside wall. Jones would go on to win the Kansas Lottery 250 by .405 seconds over the second-place finisher Austin Cindric. This is Jones’s second win of the season and third in his Xfinity Series career.
A last-lap pass for the win! @BrandonJonesRac gets around @AustinCindric to secure his second win of the 2020 season! pic.twitter.com/rcN083YoAF — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 25, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Harrison Burton third, Ryan Sieg fourth, Ross Chastain fifth, Justin Haley sixth, Daniel Hemric seventh, Michael Annett eighth, Riley Herbst ninth, and Justin Allgaier tenth. There were eight lead changes by five drivers and five cautions for 22 laps.
Updated playoff standings are as follows. Already in are Chase Briscoe in first (5 wins), Austin Cindric second (3 wins), Noah Gragson third (2 wins), Brandon Jones fourth (2 wins), Harrison Burton fifth (2 wins), and Justin Haley sixth (1 win). Ross Chastain is seventh, followed by Justin Allgaier eighth, Michael Annett ninth, Riley Herbst tenth, Ryan Sieg eleventh, and Brandon Brown twelfth. Drivers on the outside looking in are Jeremy Clements in thirteenth, Myatt Snider fourteenth, Alex Labbe fifteenth, and Jesse Little sixteenth.
The next race for the Xfinity Series will be on August 8th from Road America in the Henry 180 at noon on NBCSN.
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