The NASCAR Xfinity Series Round of 12 playoffs continued with race two at Talladega Superspeedway in the Ag-Pro 300. On the pole for this race was Chase Briscoe, followed by Noah Gragson. There was no “Choose Cone Rule” in this race. There was tension among the drivers, and it could be seen on the track as at the end of this race, two drivers would be out of the playoffs.
At @TalladegaSuperS, anything can happen! The #NASCARPlayoffs continue with the #AgPro300 right now on NBCSN! pic.twitter.com/HWGR3x6Q8F — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 3, 2020
Allgaier and Gragson each led a lap at the start of the race before Briscoe got back the lead on the third lap. The field was three-wide at one point; playoff drivers were trying to gain spots to improve their positions and earn points for the playoff. Briscoe led the remaining 23 laps to win stage one. Vinnie Miller got the free pass. During the caution, all leaders went to pit road, with most drivers only taking two tires. Briscoe was on the outside, and Brandon Jones was inside to start stage two on lap 30.
STAGE WINNER: @ChaseBriscoe5 holds off the field and takes Stage 1 of the #AgPro300 at @TalladegaSuperS. NBCSN | https://t.co/593lUVrknA pic.twitter.com/PkSCOporSL — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 3, 2020
Twelve laps in stage two, Austin Hill tried to side-draft Riley Herbst and instead, turned him and went sliding before hitting the inside wall hard to bring out the caution for the second time. During the caution, AJ Allmendinger, Noah Gragson, and six others pitted while everyone else stayed out.
A heavy hit for @rileyherbst! The No. 18 goes for a slide after contact with @_AustinHill! pic.twitter.com/wzfr5DGlzE — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 3, 2020
Just as the field took the green flag, Ross Chastain got spun from behind by Harrison Burton before being tagged by Colby Howard, which kept the race under caution for the third time. The race was red-flagged for nine minutes. The race then resumed with one lap to go in stage two, which went to Chase Briscoe.
STAGE WINNER: @ChaseBriscoe5 gets it done … again! He claims the opening two stages of the #AgPro300 at @TalladegaSuperS! pic.twitter.com/8bWxKIgMox — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 3, 2020
During the caution, AJ Allmendinger and four others stayed out while everyone else pitted. Noah Gragson won the race off of pit road followed by Chase Briscoe. Allmendinger was on the outside with Timmy Hill inside to start the final stage on lap 56. Twenty laps into the final stage, everyone came to pit road, except for Austin Hill, Austin Cindric, and Jeffrey Earnhardt. As they were going to pit road, all lost control and hit the inside wall to bring out the fifth caution.
Coming to pit road at @TalladegaSuperS is not easy. @AustinCindric and @_AustinHill crash hard bringing out the yellow. pic.twitter.com/daJOwcdVt0 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 3, 2020
During the caution, all of the leaders came to pit road. Brandon Brown came out first, taking fuel only followed by Justin Allgaier. Brown was on the inside, and Allgaier was outside for the restart on lap 84. Briscoe took the lead a lap later. Debris on the front stretch would bring out the sixth caution on lap 92. Allgaier’s car was smoking on the track as he reported to his crew chief that the oil gauge was bouncing all around. Briscoe was on the outside, and Allmendinger was inside for the restart on lap 96. Allgaier’s engine gave out, and he went to the garage, finishing in 37th place.
With three laps to go, Noah Gragson turned Briscoe; however, Briscoe made the save and kept going as Justin Haley took over the lead. A wreck in the backstretch involving AJ Allmendinger, Harrison Burton, and three others brought out the caution to end the race that went to Justin Haley while Michael Annett finished second. With the win, Haley moves on to the Round of 8 playoffs. Michael Annett was later disqualified for not meeting the minimum heights requirement and moved to a last place finish.
The @ChaseBriscoe5 save! The @Justin_Haley_ pass for the lead! Here's how it all went down in the closing laps at @TalladegaSuperS. 👇 pic.twitter.com/bJNxAtJWKI — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 3, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Ryan Sieg second, Noah Gragson third, Brandon Jones fourth, Daniel Hemric fifth, Ross Chastain sixth, Josh Williams seventh, Garrett Smithley eighth, Brandon Brown ninth, and Alex Labbe tenth. There were seven cautions for 25 laps and thirteen lead changes.
The Round of 12 playoffs wraps up next weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval for the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina next Saturday at 3:30 pm on NBC.
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