The NASCAR Xfinity Series delivered another electrifying night of racing at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, but it was Mother Nature who threatened to steal the spotlight before Nick ultimately claimed victory in a thrilling, weather-delayed Focused Health 250. The event, held on Friday, June 27, 2025, was marked by lightning delays, intense competition, and a series of accidents that kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout the evening.
Weather Plays a Major Role
The race weekend at EchoPark Speedway was already under the shadow of inclement weather, with forecasters predicting partly cloudy skies, showers, and thunderstorms for Friday. Although the track remained dry, lightning in the area caused multiple delays both earlier in the day during qualifying and later as the main event approached. The Xfinity Series race was initially scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET, but lightning forced officials to delay the green flag until conditions improved. The delay lasted over an hour, with the cars finally rolling back onto the track at 10:25 p.m. ET after the red flag was lifted.
Temperatures remained hot, hovering around 80 degrees at race time, but the real concern was the lightning strikes within eight miles of the track, making it unsafe for both fans and competitors. NASCAR’s strict safety protocols meant the race could not proceed until the threat had passed, adding tension to an already highly anticipated event.
Race Recap: Chaos and Comeback
Sheldon Creed started the race from the pole position, thanks to a blistering qualifying lap of 32.107 seconds at 172.673 mph—his fourth pole in 120 Xfinity Series starts. Creed led the field to the green flag, but the action didn’t take long to heat up. Within the first five laps, a multi-car incident brought out the caution flag. Blaine Perkins spun following contact from Christian Eckes, collecting Parker Retzlaff, William Sawalich, and Josh Williams, all of whom sustained noticeable damage.
Once the race resumed, Creed remained in control, but the drama was far from over. Austin Hill, a pre-race favorite who had won five of the last six Xfinity races, quickly fell out of contention after reporting fuel pressure issues. Hill was forced to pit under green, dropping him multiple laps down and out of contention for the win.
As the race approached the end of the opening stage, NASCAR again threw the caution—this time for inclement weather and a lightning strike within eight miles of the track. The field was brought down pit road, and the race was red-flagged at 9:02 p.m. ET. At the time of the stoppage, Creed led the field, with Connor Zilisch in second, followed by Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, and Taylor Gray. Ryan Sieg, Aric Almirola, Nick Sanchez, Justin Allgaier, and Leland Honeyman rounded out the top ten.
After a lengthy delay, racing resumed at 10:25 p.m. ET. The second and third stages saw a flurry of cautions and lead changes. Lap 41 brought another multi-car accident involving Creed, Ryan Sieg, Allgaier, Love, Smith, Alfredo, J. Burton, Legge, and Staropoli. The race remained chaotic, with frequent cautions and pit strategies playing a critical role.
The Final Stages and Victory
As the laps wound down, Nick Sanchez, who had been running solidly in the top ten, began to assert himself. The closing stages saw intense battles for the lead, with Sanchez making a decisive move in the final laps to take control of the race. Despite multiple restarts and a series of late-race incidents, Sanchez kept his cool and crossed the finish line first, securing a hard-fought victory.
Sanchez’s win was a testament to both his skill and his team’s ability to adapt to the changing conditions. The race was a true test of patience and strategy, with the weather delays and numerous cautions forcing teams to rethink their approaches on the fly.
Full Race Results
Below are the Unofficial results for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at EchoPark Speedway, Atlanta, as reported by major motorsport outlets. Note: While some preliminary or placeholder results may not reflect the final finishing order, the following is a composite of the most accurate and up-to-date information available, especially given the chaotic nature of the event:
| Finish | Starting Pos | Driver |
| 1 | 11 | Nick Sanchez |
| 2 | 24 | Carson Kvapil |
| 3 | 3 | Sam Mayer |
| 4 | 6 | Connor Zilisch |
| 5 | 7 | Taylor Gray |
| 6 | 5 | Jesse Love |
| 7 | 10 | Aric Almirola |
| 8 | 22 | Daniel Dye |
| 9 | 21 | Kyle Sieg |
| 10 | 26 | Jeremy Clements |
| 11 | 29 | Dean Thompson |
| 12 | 19 | Leland Honeyman |
| 13 | 9 | Harrison Burton |
| 14 | 4 | Brandon Jones |
| 15 | 33 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 16 | 27 | Jeb Burton |
| 17 | 32 | Brennan Poole |
| 18 | 34 | Joey Gase |
| 19 | 17 | Christian Eckes |
| 20 | 37 | Mason Massey |
| 21 | 28 | Ryan Ellis |
| 22 | 15 | Blaine Perkins |
| 23 | 36 | Garrett Smithley |
| 24 | 35 | Nick Leitz |
| 25 | 31 | Kris Wright |
| 26 | 2 | Austin Hill |
| 27 | 38 | Mason Maggio |
| 28 | 8 | CJ McLaughlin |
| 29 | 25 | Anthony Alfredo |
| 30 | 13 | Ryan Sieg |
| 31 | 16 | Justin Allgaier |
| 32 | 1 | Sheldon Creed |
| 33 | 14 | Sammy Smith |
| 34 | 23 | Katherine Legge |
| 35 | 20 | Patrick Staropoli |
| 36 | 12 | William Sawalich |
| 37 | 18 | Parker Retzlaff |
| 38 | 30 | Josh Williams |
News in Brief: Full Xfinity Results from EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta
The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at EchoPark Speedway delivered high drama as Nick Sanchez captured victory after a lightning delay and multiple crashes shook up the field. Sheldon Creed started on pole but exited early after leading 37 laps. The weather delayed both qualifying and the race, creating chaos that shuffled contenders. Rookies like Carson Kvapil, Connor Zilisch, and Taylor Gray impressed with top-five finishes. Austin Hill and others faced setbacks, while 38 drivers battled intense conditions under the lights.
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