The NASCAR Xfinity Series held their final race of the regular season Friday night from Bristol Motor Speedway in the Food City 300. Brandon Brown held the final playoff spot with Jeremy Clements, Myatt Snider, and Josh Williams behind him. Justin Allgaier won the pole by a metric qualifying system along with Ross Chastain starting second. The “Choose Cone Rule” was in effect for this race. Bayley Currey was the only driver starting at the rear of the field for unapproved adjustments.
Short-track racing on a Friday night! We're GREEN in the #FoodCity300 from @BMSupdates! (📺: NBCSN) pic.twitter.com/JNQG9FJ5Ck — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 18, 2020
On the third lap of the race, Ross Chastain passed Justin Allgaier for the lead. Myatt Snider, one of the drivers fighting to get in the playoffs, took his car to the garage with mechanical issues. The team would call it quits shortly after, officially eliminating him from playoff contention, and he would finish in 35th place. The competition caution would come out at lap 41. During the caution, Ryan Sieg and Josh Williams were the only drivers to pit. Sieg was caught speeding and to restart at the back of the field.
NEW LEADER: Here comes the 1️⃣0️⃣! @RossChastain makes an early move on @J_Allgaier for the top spot in Stage 1! pic.twitter.com/i3C5ohCPP6 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 18, 2020
Ross Chastain chose the inside lane, and Allgaier went outside for the restart on lap 47. Allgaier went around Chastain off of turn four to regain the lead. On lap 63, BJ McLeod came down on Jeffrey Earnhardt, who hit him, sending him into the outside wall before hitting Vinnie Miller. Tommy Joe Martins tried to avoid the wreck and lost control of his car, hitting the inside wall as the second caution was out.
"Take it. Take it." – @EddieDHondt Following the competition caution, @J_Allgaier takes the lead back in the #FoodCity300. (📺: NBCSN) pic.twitter.com/2HSaK5vsKE — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 18, 2020
That's just Bristol. 😬@bjmcleod78, @VinnieMiller_ and @TommyJoeMartins are among those involved in this accident. pic.twitter.com/7BVFJgctMV — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 18, 2020
Ryan Sieg and Gray Gaulding were the only drivers to pit during the caution. Justin Allgaier went to the outside and Ross Chastain on the inside for the restart on lap 70. Allgaier led the last 16 laps to win stage one, his eleventh stage win of the season.
STAGE WINNER: @J_Allgaier keeps the momentum going by winning Stage 1 in the #FoodCity300 at @BMSupdates! 📺: NBCSN | 🖥: https://t.co/593lUV9Jw2 pic.twitter.com/9jZYNlvQpn — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 18, 2020
During the caution, Ryan Sieg was the only driver to stay out while everyone else came to pit road. Josh Williams took fuel only with everyone else taking four tires. Ryan Sieg chose the inside lane, and Justin Allgaier went outside to start stage two on lap 94. On lap 103, Justin Haley suffered a right front flat tire and went to pit road. On lap 121, Brandon Jones made contact with Joe Graf Jr., who was four laps down, sending Graf into Michael Annett to bring out the fourth caution. Annett’s car was leaking fluid on the racetrack, and the red flag was displayed shortly after.
.@MichaelAnnett is not going to like this. 📺: NBCSN | 🖥: https://t.co/593lUV9Jw2 pic.twitter.com/JIsZ0Bt4mk — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 18, 2020
The red flag lasted nine-minutes before the yellow flag was back out. During the caution, Justin Haley, Jeremy Clements, and three others went to pit road. Allgaier chose the outside lane, and Austin Cindric went inside for the restart on lap 130. Noah Gragson and Ross Chastain were clashing for fourth place, bumping each other before Chastain took the position. Upfront, Allgaier led the remaining 41 laps to win stage two.
Patience. It's easier said than done. @NoahGragson | @RossChastain pic.twitter.com/hLEy6ScSh5 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 19, 2020
During the caution, Allgaier led the field to pit road for four tires. Chase Briscoe won the race off of pit road followed by Chastain. Chase Briscoe went inside, and Chastain went outside as the final stage started on lap 179. Allgaier fell to sixth after getting four-wide at turn four.
Sentences you don't hear often… "FOUR WIDE AT BRISTOL!" @BMSUpdates // @NASCAR_Xfinity // NBCSN pic.twitter.com/j9t8lo9qOL — #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 19, 2020
Bayley Currey lost a spring on the right rear to bring out the caution for the sixth time. No one went to pit road during the caution. Chastain chose the outside lane, and Briscoe went inside for the restart on lap 210. Briscoe spun the tires on the restart, allowing Chastain and Austin Cindric to get ahead of him. Briscoe would recover and take second away from Cindric on lap 226. Dexter Bean would spin on the backstretch and hit the inside wall to bring the seventh caution of the night. All of the leaders went to pit road for four tires. Ross Chastain won the race off of pit road, followed by Cindric, Briscoe, Allgaier, and Harrison Burton. Chastain chose the outside lane while Cindric went inside for the restart on lap 252. On the same lap, Cindric used the inside lane to pass Chastain for the lead.
NEW LEADER: @AustinCindric is there! The 2️⃣2️⃣ takes the top spot away from @RossChastain! pic.twitter.com/XPhWCB2X2B — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 19, 2020
With ten laps to go, Briscoe and Chastain both make contact, battling for second place that ultimately went to Briscoe. With five laps left, Briscoe went inside to pass Cindric at turn two. Chastain also got by Cindric to take second. Briscoe would win his seventh race of the season by .651 seconds over Ross Chastain. This is the fifth time that both drivers have finished one and two this year. Brandon Brown, who finished in 12th place, clinches the final spot in the playoffs.
.@ChaseBriscoe5 passes Austin Cindric late to WIN at @BMSUpdates!@StewartHaasRcng // @NASCAR_Xfinity pic.twitter.com/eUeLcb0mTY — #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 19, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Austin Cindric third, Harrison Burton fourth, Justin Allgaier fifth, Anthony Alfredo sixth, Noah Gragson seventh, Brandon Jones eighth, Jeb Burton ninth, and Riley Herbst tenth. There were seven cautions for 45 laps and ten lead changes.
The drivers that will be competing in the playoffs are Chase Briscoe first (2,050 points), Austin Cindric second (2,050 points), Justin Allgaier third (2,033 points), Noah Gragson fourth (2,025 points), Brandon Jones fifth (2,020 points), Justin Haley sixth (2,018 points), Harrison Burton seventh (2,014 points), Ross Chastain eighth (2,010 points), Ryan Sieg ninth (2,002 points), Michael Annett tenth (2,002 points), Riley Herbst eleventh (2,001 points), and Brandon Brown twelfth (2,000 points).
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Round of 12 playoffs begin next Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Alsco 300 at 7:30 pm on NBCSN.
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