{"id":48261,"date":"2024-09-28T19:55:58","date_gmt":"2024-09-29T00:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=48261"},"modified":"2024-09-29T16:02:47","modified_gmt":"2024-09-29T21:02:47","slug":"aric-almirola-beats-playoff-drivers-in-nascar-xfinity-postseason-opener-at-kansas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/28\/aric-almirola-beats-playoff-drivers-in-nascar-xfinity-postseason-opener-at-kansas\/","title":{"rendered":"Aric Almirola beats Playoff drivers in NASCAR Xfinity postseason opener at Kansas"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Aric Almirola, driver of the #20 He Gets Us Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

KANSAS City, Kan.\u2014 Part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Aric Almirola ran down Playoff leader Cole Custer in the closing laps of Saturday\u2019s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway and pulled away for his second victory of the season in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Aric Almirola, driver of the #20 He Gets Us Toyota, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

In a Round of 12 Playoff opener that ended with several unhappy drivers and a handful of post-race conversations between Playoff contenders, Almirola picked up his first win at the 1.5-mile track and the sixth of his career.<\/p>\n

Almirola beat Custer to the finish line by 0.660 seconds, with Chandler Smith trailing in third after raising Custer\u2019s ire by squeezing the No. 00 Ford into the outside wall as Custer chased Smith for the lead\u2014before Almirola made his late-race run.   <\/p>\n

To seal the win, Almirola had to overcome a brush with the outside wall on Lap 124 and a resulting cut tire that forced him to the pits. An opportune caution that interrupted a cycle of green flag stops on Lap 145 was all Almirola needed to get back on equal footing with the other contenders.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Aric Almirola, driver of the #20 He Gets Us Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Almirola is the fourth driver to win two races this season in the No. 20 JGR Toyota, joining Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek and Ryan Truex.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m wore out,\u201d said Almirola, who passed Custer for the lead on Lap 197 of 200. \u201cThat was a hard day at the office for a guy that\u2019s been sitting on the couch. I just pushed too hard there when we had the issue on pit road (a slow stop), and I got in the fence and cut the right-rear tire down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew I had to put my head down and go to work after that. We got lucky to get the caution when we did, and we were out of tires, so the fact that it went green there to the end (for the final 49 laps)\u2026 that\u2019s where we were strong. We were really strong on the long runs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 QPS Employment Group Chevrolet, and Aric Almirola, driver of the #20 He Gets Us Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After the race, Custer had a brief conversation with Smith and vowed revenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody wants to try and talk afterwards,\u201d Custer said. \u201cAt the end of the day, he put me in the fence, and he\u2019s going to pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith countered that he didn\u2019t believe Custer ever had position to his outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re racing for the win and five extra Playoff points,\u201d said Smith, who led 114 laps. “You\u2019ve got a very, very valid statement, I understand, but I also wouldn\u2019t change what I did, because I was giving myself the best shot to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Chandler Smith, driver of the #81 QuickTie Toyota, Brandon Jones, driver of the #9 Menards\/Schultz Chevrolet, Cole Custer, driver of the #00 CW on NXT Ford, Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 KOA\/RTIC Chevrolet, Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 QPS Employment Group Chevrolet, and Aric Almirola, driver of the #20 He Gets Us Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Non-Playoff driver Connor Zilisch finished fourth, followed by Sheldon Creed, who improved his position in the Playoff standings by four spots with his seventh top five in the last nine races.<\/p>\n

Pole winner Brandon Jones, who didn\u2019t make the postseason, was fifth, followed by Playoff drivers Austin Hill, Shane van Gisbergen, Jesse Love and Riley Herbst.<\/p>\n

In another post-race conversation, Hill apologized to Herbst for Lap 90 contact that sent Herbst\u2019s Ford spinning through the infield grass at the end of the second stage. In yet another tete a tete between Playoff drivers, Sammy Smith took AJ Allmendinger to task for early contact that damaged Smith\u2019s Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

Smith finished 22nd and heads to next Saturday\u2019s Playoff race at Talladega 12th in the standings, 23 points below the cut line for the Round of 8.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Cole Custer, driver of the #00 CW on NXT Ford, and Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 QPS Employment Group Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Allmendinger (17th Saturday) and Parker Kligerman (12th) are 10th and 11th in the Playoff standings, 13 and 15 points below the cutoff, respectively.<\/p>\n

The shockingly bad luck haunting top-seeded Justin Allgaier continued in force on Saturday. Racing in close quarters with Creed after a restart on Lap 70, Allgaier\u2019s No. 7 Chevrolet broke loose, slid across traffic and nosed into the inside wall on the backstretch.<\/p>\n

After frantic repairs, Allgaier attempted to return to the race, but a cut left-front tire sent him into the outside wall and out of action in 36th place.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 KOA\/RTIC Chevrolet, and Sheldon Creed, driver of the #18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Allgaier\u2019s exit came eight days after a series of accidents knocked him out of the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway and cost him the regular-season championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019ve had a stretch of races that have been like these last three or four weeks,\u201d said Allgaier. \u201cWe\u2019re not out of it by any stretch. Obviously, that\u2019s why you do all the work to get all the bonus points you can.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a long road the next two weeks. I\u2019ve got the team that can do it. We\u2019ve just got to go have some luck on our side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allgaier fell from first to ninth in the standings and trails Herbst by one point in the battle for the final berth in the Round of 8.<\/p>\n

Custer now leads the series by five points over Chandler Smith, with Hill 15 points back. Fourth-place Sam Mayer, who ran 13th at Kansas, is 28 points behind Custer and three points ahead of Creed in fifth.<\/p>\n

Van Gisbergen and Love are sixth and seventh in the Playoff standings, respectively eight and three points above cut line for the next round.<\/p>\n

Interview:<\/h3>\n

NXS Race Winner – Aric Almirola (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Kansas Lottery 300<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kansas Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kansas City, Kansas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, September 28, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

                1. (6)  Aric Almirola (P), Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                2. (3)  Cole Custer (P), Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                3. (2)  Chandler Smith (P), Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                4. (4)  Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                5. (15)  Sheldon Creed (P), Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                6. (1)  Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                7. (10)  Austin Hill (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                8. (22)  Shane Van Gisbergen # (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                9. (7)  Jesse Love # (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                10. (16)  Riley Herbst (P), Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                11. (18)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                12. (8)  Parker Kligerman (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                13. (5)  Sam Mayer (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                14. (24)  Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                15. (20)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                16. (12)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                17. (14)  AJ Allmendinger (P), Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                18. (28)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                19. (29)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                20. (25)  JJ Yeley, Ford, 199.<\/p>\n

                21. (23)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                22. (13)  Sammy Smith (P), Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                23. (19)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                24. (21)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 198.<\/p>\n

                25. (38)  Leland Honeyman #, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                26. (33)  Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 197.<\/p>\n

                27. (26)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 197.<\/p>\n

                28. (32)  Blaine Perkins, Ford, 197.<\/p>\n

                29. (36)  Ryan Vargas, Chevrolet, 196.<\/p>\n

                30. (35)  Patrick Emerling, Chevrolet, 196.<\/p>\n

                31. (17)  Corey Heim(i), Toyota, 195.<\/p>\n

                32. (34)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 194.<\/p>\n

                33. (31)  Logan Bearden, Ford, 190.<\/p>\n

                34. (30)  Daniel Dye(i), Chevrolet, 189.<\/p>\n

                35. (27)  Dawson Cram(i), Chevrolet, Fuel Pressure, 174.<\/p>\n

                36. (9)  Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 73.<\/p>\n

                37. (37)  Brad Perez, Chevrolet, Oil Pump, 61.<\/p>\n

                38. (11)  Taylor Gray(i), Toyota, Engine, 45.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  121.036 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 28 Mins, 43 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.660 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  6 for 33 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  14 among 5 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   C. Smith (P) 1-9;B. Jones 10;C. Smith (P) 11-36;A. Almirola (P) 37-48;C. Smith (P) 49;C. Custer (P) 50-75;S. Mayer (P) 76-93;C. Smith (P) 94-136;C. Custer (P) 137-144;B. Jones 145-147;C. Custer (P) 148-155;C. Smith (P) 156-190;C. Custer (P) 191-196;A. Almirola (P) 197-200.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Chandler Smith (P) 5 times for 114 laps; Cole Custer (P) 4 times for 48 laps; Sam Mayer (P) 1 time for 18 laps; Aric Almirola (P) 2 times for 16 laps; Brandon Jones 2 times for 4 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 20,81,00,9,1,18,21,7,98,48<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 1,20,00,81,88,21,18,9,38,39<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service KANSAS City, Kan.\u2014 Part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Aric Almirola ran down Playoff leader Cole Custer in the closing laps of Saturday\u2019s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway and pulled away for his second victory of the season in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. In a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":48264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[272,213,16,181],"class_list":["post-48261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-aric-almirola","tag-kansas-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/GettyImages-2175354312-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-cyp","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48261"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48280,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48261\/revisions\/48280"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}