Aric Almirola Bristol race victory became the headline moment at the NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300, held Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. Almirola surged to first in a dramatic late-stage maneuver, claiming his second win of the season by a razor-thin margin of 0.381 seconds over Sheldon Creed.
Pivotal Moments Shape the Night at Bristol
Friday’s race began with Justin Allgaier in pole position, closely followed by Sam Mayer. Allgaier demonstrated early dominance, leading 81 laps and securing the win in stage one. Connor Zilisch responded by guiding the field for 97 laps, capturing the second stage and establishing himself as a main contender.
In the final stage, Almirola made significant progress, overtaking Allgaier for third position on lap 209. An incident with Daniel Dye spinning at Turn 2 led to a caution, prompting most drivers to visit pit road, placing Almirola in second. The intensity rose as Almirola pursued Connor Zilisch for the top spot until another caution emerged after Carson Ware spun between Turns 1 and 2.
The race’s turning point came when Zilisch elected to pit while Almirola faked a pit stop and stayed out, seizing the lead. Almirola maintained the advantage, leading 34 of the final 300 laps to clinch the checkered flag. The finish edged out Sheldon Creed, earning Almirola one of the season’s most hard-fought victories.
Strong Competition and Eventful Race Statistics
The top five was rounded out by Sam Mayer, Carson Kvapil, and Connor Zilisch—who notably led the most laps with 98 overall. Justin Allgaier, Harrison Burton, Christian Eckes, Jeremy Clements, and Brennan Poole followed to complete the top ten finishers. Throughout the 300-lap contest, seven lead changes occurred among six different drivers, and the evening featured seven cautions that slowed the action for a total of 68 laps. Stefan Parsons was among the competitors affected by these incidents.
Looking Ahead to Kansas Speedway
With momentum from his Bristol triumph, Aric Almirola now sets sights on the next challenge in the Xfinity Series. The competition returns on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Kansas Speedway, where drivers will look to build on the intensity and drama showcased at Bristol Motor Speedway. Fans can tune in to the race broadcast on The CW for the next round of action.
