After the NTT IndyCar Series raced the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was the NASCAR Xfinity Series turn to tangle with the track for the first time in series history in the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard. A pair of Chevrolets were on the front row as Jeb Burton was the pole-sitter, and next to him was Michael Annett.
Green flag at @IMS! A historic day is underway in the #Pennzoil150 on NBC and https://t.co/ACD7qGrTa4! pic.twitter.com/jxO81YHGYo — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
When the race started, Jeb Burton led a couple of laps before being overtaken by Justin Allgaier for the lead. Allgaier also led a couple of laps before losing the lead to Austin Cindric on the front stretch heading into turn one.
Is @AustinCindric the man to beat on the @IMS Road Course? The No. 22 makes the pass for the lead going into Turn 1! pic.twitter.com/9nnvOkDUD0 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
The pole-sitter Jeb Burton had a power steering issue on the 14th lap. There was more trouble on the track four laps later when Vinnie Miller’s car lost a tire to bring out the first caution and the end of stage one that went to Austin Cindric. All of the lead lap cars pitted except for Brandon Jones and Riley Herbst.
Jones led the field back to green on lap 24. Chase Briscoe, who restarted third, made his way to the lead with Austin Cindric right behind him. Cindric challenged him for the lead until Bayley Curry’s car stalled on the track bringing out the second caution of the day.
Playing defense.@ChaseBriscoe5 is doing all he can to keep @AustinCindric behind him! pic.twitter.com/pOyGFZrXBZ — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
On the restart at lap 29, Austin Cindric was issued a penalty for jumping the restart and had to serve a drive-through penalty. Chase Briscoe continued to lead, and on lap 35, the third caution came out for Brandon Jones as his car was leaking brake fluid that caught on fire at turn nine.
Big issues for @BrandonJonesRac! Fluid ignites under the car 🔥! pic.twitter.com/frCKaHzJrC — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
Under the caution, Chase Briscoe pitted while several drivers stayed out, including Ryan Sieg, Brandon Brown, Josh Bilicki, Timmy Hill, Justin Allgaier, and Michael Annett. Briscoe restarted seventh as he was the first car to pit. On the restart at lap 39, there was a lot of contact heading into turn one with Brandon Brown losing his bumper, and Noah Gragson went into the grass after making contact with Timmy Hill. While that went on, Chase Briscoe was able to get the lead back and take stage two.
The six cars that did not pit all made pit stops. Stephen Leicht and Matt Mills were caught speeding and had to go to the rear of the field. Chase Briscoe led the field back to green on lap 44 with Justin Allgaier next to him to start the final stage.
🐎 S T A M P E D E 🐎 The final stage is underway on NBC and https://t.co/ACD7qGrTa4! pic.twitter.com/X2xI46yovT — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
Five laps into the final stage, Austin Cindric locked up his tires heading into turn 12 as he went for the third position and passed Justin Allgaier to get it. On lap 51, Anthony Alfredo and Tommy Joe Martins made contact, and Alfredo ended up having front end damage while smoke was coming out of Martins car. Martins axel ended up coming off and parked itself on the track, bringing out the fifth caution of the day.
Coming in HOT!@AustinCindric is pushing his machine to the edge trying to get back to the lead. pic.twitter.com/iWWOUIxQN3 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
Most of the cars headed to pit road under the caution. Chase Briscoe won the race off of pit road. Preston Pardus was the leader and led the field back to green with six laps to go. Briscoe made his back to the lead after restarting from the seventh position. There was a battle for the lead between Briscoe, Allmendinger, and Cindric. With four laps to go, Briscoe got loose entering into turn ten and lost the lead to Allmendinger and second-place went to Austin Cindric.
Briscoe misses the corner!@AJDinger and @AustinCindric get by! pic.twitter.com/GLMsnGeuXq — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
Briscoe muscled his back to the lead entering turn one getting by Allmendinger and Cindric. Noah Gragson was now also in the mix for the lead.
🤯 @ChaseBriscoe5 won't quit! He muscles his way back to 1st! pic.twitter.com/fp4cjno8TQ — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
All four drivers were beating and banging each other with less than two laps to go. While the four drivers were battling it out, Justin Haley got into the mix. Briscoe ended up getting away from the bunch, which now left Allmendinger, Haley, Gragson, and Cindric fighting for second-place. Once Briscoe had a comfortable lead, he would go on to score his fifth win of the season, winning the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard by 1.717 seconds over the second-place finisher Justin Haley.
RETWEET to congratulate @ChaseBriscoe5 on his incredible win at @IMS! pic.twitter.com/wqQOj0yjzC — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 4, 2020
The rest of the top finishers were Noah Gragson third, AJ Allmendinger fourth, Austin Cindric fifth, Ross Chastain sixth, Justin Allgaier seventh, Alex Labbe eighth, Michael Annett ninth, and Preston Pardus tenth. There were eight lead changes and five cautions for fifteen laps.
Next up for the Xfinity Series is the Shady Rays 200 next Thursday from Kentucky Speedway at 7:30 pm on FS1.
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