At Bristol Motor Speedway’s Food City 300, the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs saw a dramatic shift as Aric Almirola ended the remarkable Connor Zilisch NASCAR Xfinity Series streak, which had reached four consecutive wins. Nevertheless, Zilisch, at just 19 years old, managed to retain his top position in the playoff standings by securing his 15th straight top-five result, a feat that matched the record set by two-time series champion Sam Ard.
The tension reached its peak during a strategic scramble when a late caution on lap 263 triggered crucial pit decisions. Almirola, competing part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing, overcame the advice of his crew chief, Seth Chavka, and opted to remain on track instead of pitting like Zilisch. This decision ultimately allowed Almirola to capture his second win of the 2024 season and the ninth Xfinity Series triumph of his career.
Almirola’s Bold Pit Decision Pays Off
As the sixth caution period unfolded, pressure mounted for Almirola and his team. The crew signaled to follow Zilisch’s move, but Almirola pushed back, believing his odds were stronger if he stayed out with older tires and clean air in front of him.
“I was not coming to pit road,”
—Aric Almirola, Part-Time Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
He led the race’s final 34 laps, demonstrating patience as his car tended to improve after the initial part of each run. Almirola struggled in the immediate aftermath of restarts, but his Toyota gained speed after approximately 15 laps.
“My car just wasn’t very good for 15 laps of a run. It took me about 15, maybe or so laps to get going. I felt squirmy. I couldn’t stick the car where I wanted to place it. I kept sliding off my marks and it was just really hard for me to get going.”
—Aric Almirola, Part-Time Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
The JR Motorsports Chevrolets, especially at the early stages of green-flag runs, were notably quicker than the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Almirola recognized that pitting alongside Zilisch would potentially cost him the race.
“Seth and I talked on the radio, and he got nervous because he heard the 88 (Zilisch). They were scanning the 88,”
—Aric Almirola, Part-Time Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
During the exchange, Chavka inquired about possible adjustments, but Almirola decided to hold his ground. Fooling their rivals into thinking a pit stop was imminent, he stuck with his plan, certain that holding track position was his only path to victory.
“I wanted those older tires that the air pressures were up in them. I thought if I got clean air that was my best opportunity to fight them off, control the race, and play defense. I didn’t think I had a good enough car for the first 15 laps of a run to be on offense. I think Seth would have been pretty mad at me if everybody behind us put four tires on and we got our doors blown off, but it worked out.”
—Aric Almirola, Part-Time Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Playoff Field Experiences Mixed Fortunes
Runner-up Sheldon Creed crossed the line just 0.381 seconds behind Almirola, marking Creed’s 15th runner-up finish. The race heavily favored drivers already in playoff contention, with six out of the top ten finishers belonging to that group. Sam Mayer was third, Carson Kvapil fourth, Justin Allgaier sixth, and Harrison Burton seventh, with all making valuable gains in the playoff standings.
However, the night proved disastrous for Sammy Smith of JR Motorsports. His Chevrolet suffered engine issues just 56 laps in, relegating him to a 37th-place finish in a field of 38. This result dropped Smith to last among the 12 playoff hopefuls, placing him 24 points below the cutoff line for advancement.
Both Richard Childress Racing drivers also fell below the elimination threshold following this Bristol showdown. Jesse Love briefly led the field before a flat tire 25 laps from the finish forced him down to 25th position. Nick Sanchez, his teammate, finished 13th, and both are now three points under the cutline. Meanwhile, Austin Hill improved his position slightly with a 19th-place finish, but at 16 points below the cutline, faces an uphill climb.
Championship Hunt Set for a Pause Before Kansas
Following the intense Bristol event, the Xfinity Series will take a break before resuming playoff action on September 27 at Kansas Speedway. The landscape remains fiercely competitive, with Connor Zilisch attempting to build on his record-tying string of top-five finishes and pursue the championship. Other playoff drivers, including Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Harrison Burton, Jesse Love, and Nick Sanchez, will be focused on gaining ground and securing their own spots in the next round. The results at Bristol have tightened the battle lines, making the next event critical for postseason ambitions.
The fallout from Bristol not only underscored Aric Almirola’s strategic prowess and Zilisch’s ongoing consistency but raised the pressure for drivers and teams whose championship hopes now hang in the balance. As the Xfinity Series playoffs continue, the stakes for each contender will only intensify, ensuring heightened emotions and unpredictable outcomes as the field narrows toward the title.
