Aric Almirola wins Bristol Xfinity Series race by outlasting fellow competitors on an audacious old-tire gamble Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, sealing his ninth career series victory and keeping Joe Gibbs Racing in owners’ championship contention. The dramatic finish showcased a successful risk taken in the heat of a close contest, as rivals pushed hard to challenge the eventual winner during crucial late-race restarts.
Almirola Holds Off Teammates with Grit and Strategy
At Bristol under the lights, Aric Almirola executed a gutsy call to remain on older tires instead of pitting, an effort that paid off handsomely as he managed to hold both pace and position in the final stage. The Friday event marked Almirola’s second win of the 2025 Xfinity season and solidified his impact at Joe Gibbs Racing, which continues to chase the coveted owners’ crown. As the laps dwindled, attention turned to whether his used tires would endure the fierce on-track battle from close contenders.
After crossing the finish line, he expressed his determination to finally edge out his speedy teammates:
I’ve just been tired of getting beat by those guys.
—Aric Almirola, Driver. He then added that taking the lead was a conscious choice meant to give himself the best chance at victory.
Drawing inspiration from past races at Bristol, Almirola further revealed the rationale for sticking to his strategy, noting,
Seth (Chavka) and I watched the last two or three races here and we saw when the No. 9 car with Noah Gragson won with 100 laps on his tires, so I decided to stay out when they said pit.
—Aric Almirola, Driver. This decision proved pivotal, as it enabled him to maintain track position despite mounting pressure from rivals on fresher tires.
Shelton Creed and Sam Mayer Complete the Podium
The race ended with Sheldon Creed finishing second, narrowly missing his first victory yet again in what has now become his 15th runner-up finish in the Xfinity Series. His fellow teammate Sam Mayer followed close behind in third, both drivers applying pressure to Almirola but falling just short of overtaking him in the crucial closing moments.
Carson Kvapil placed fourth after a strong effort throughout the night, while Connor Zilisch earned an impressive fifth-place result, marking his 26th top-five finish of the season. Each of these drivers pushed through the hectic rhythm of a race punctuated by caution periods and strategic calls.
Early Incidents and Key Shifts During the Race
Justin Allgaier started the race from pole position and led early, gaining a solid advantage over Sam Mayer as the opening laps unfolded. An early yellow flag was triggered on lap 12 after Ryan Sieg was tagged by Leland Honeyman and slid into a tangle with Ryan Ellis, resulting in mild wall contact. On the restart, Allgaier remained at the front, pushing ahead of Connor Zilisch before stretching his advantage amid lapped traffic.
A crucial setback occurred for Sammy Smith, who suffered engine failure midway through stage one, affecting his playoff hopes. This incident was followed by another caution, as Jesse Love and Corey Day tangled, spinning Day’s car and prompting leaders to pit for fresh tires. Harrison Burton and Jesse Love capitalized by staying out, aiming for valuable stage points, but Love soon surrendered the lead to a surging Allgaier as the stage ended.
Stage two saw an intense clash between Mayer and Allgaier, resulting in Mayer taking control before Zilisch mounted a charge. Zilisch made a daring move on the stage’s final lap, passing Mayer to snatch the stage victory for himself.
As the field lined up for the final segment, Zilisch led with Mayer in pursuit. A caution for Daniel Dye’s spin reset the field with less than 90 laps left, enabling Almirola to gain second position behind Zilisch. Another caution emerged with 38 laps to go, as Carson Ware spun after contact with Mayer, further setting up the tense closing stages.
Drama Builds as Restarts Set the Stage
Late in the event, eight cars—including Almirola, Mayer, Allgaier, and Kvapil—opted not to pit during a pivotal yellow, committing to older tires as the laps ticked down. A subsequent caution for Taylor Gray’s spin after Jeb Burton slowed in front momentarily paused the action and gave the leaders a chance to regroup.
Almirola protected his lead on each green-flag restart, fending off repeated attacks from Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed. Despite their best efforts, Almirola’s calculated choice and steady driving kept the Joe Gibbs Racing driver at the front, as the laps wound to a climactic finish.
Xfinity Series Playoffs Head to Kansas After Bristol Showdown
The result at Bristol keeps Joe Gibbs Racing competitive in the owners’ championship race as the playoff schedule marches on. The next major test for Xfinity Series drivers will take place at Kansas Speedway, as the series’ second playoff race is set for Saturday, September 27, at 4:00 p.m. ET, airing live on The CW. Drivers and teams will look to build on lessons learned at Bristol, where bold calls and split-second decisions shaped the outcome and kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The night’s events highlighted the intensity of the current Xfinity Series season, with old-tire gambles and tenacious driving becoming decisive factors in championship battles. As the series progresses to Kansas, top contenders like Aric Almirola, Sheldon Creed, and Sam Mayer will try to write the next chapter in an already thrilling playoff saga.
