Aric Almirola returned to Bristol Motor Speedway’s Xfinity stage after an eight-year absence and left with a statement win. Driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, the veteran outlasted a fierce late-race charge from Sheldon Creed to capture Friday night’s Food City 300. Almirola’s ninth career Xfinity triumph and second victory of the 2025 season showed patience, strategy, and veteran composure—qualities that kept a hungry field of playoff contenders at bay on one of NASCAR’s most challenging short tracks.
Key Highlights
Aric Almirola earned his ninth career Xfinity win and second of 2025.
Sheldon Creed recorded his 15th career runner-up finish without a victory.
Connor Zilisch tied Sam Ard’s record for most consecutive top-five finishes.
Sammy Smith suffered engine failure, creating playoff implications.
Multiple cautions, including incidents with Ryan Sieg and Carson Ware, shaped the race’s momentum.
Aric Almirola’s Late-Race Gamble Pays Off
Almirola admitted that staying out on older tires was a calculated risk after watching past races at Bristol.
“I’ve just been tired of getting beat by those guys. I figured I’d try my chances with the lead. They’ve been so fast and they fire off so fast on new tires and I just didn’t think I could beat them straight up on new tires. It took about 20 laps to get going so I thought my best chance was to stay out on old tires.” – Aric Almirola
Crew chief Seth Chavka backed the call, referencing a 2023 Bristol win by Noah Gragson using a similar strategy. The decision allowed Almirola to maintain track position during the final 40 laps, ultimately holding off Mayer and Creed.
Sheldon Creed’s Frustrating Record Grows
Sheldon Creed once again left a NASCAR Xfinity Series race one spot short of victory. His 15th career second-place finish extended a record for most runner-up results without a win. Creed and teammate Sam Mayer surged late, but Almirola’s steady pace kept them behind.
“I thought we had a car to catch him, but it just wasn’t enough in those last laps.” – Sheldon Creed
Playoff Implications and Standout Performances
While Almirola is not contending for the drivers’ championship, his win tightened the playoff picture. Connor Zilisch’s fifth-place run tied Sam Ard’s record for most consecutive top-fives, solidifying his postseason momentum. Justin Allgaier controlled the early laps from pole position and captured the opening stage, while Zilisch won Stage Two in a door-to-door battle with Mayer. Harrison Burton impressed with a seventh-place finish for AM Racing.
Further back, playoff contenders faced mixed results. Brandon Jones managed 11th, Nick Sanchez 13th, and Taylor Gray 14th. Austin Hill battled handling issues to finish 19th. Jesse Love’s 25th-place finish and Sammy Smith’s engine failure—ending his night after just 56 laps—created challenges heading into the next round
.
Race Flow and Key Incidents
The 300-lap contest featured several cautions that influenced pit strategy and track position. Ryan Sieg’s early spin after contact with Leland Honeyman brought the first yellow. Shortly after, Sammy Smith’s engine failure ended his night and brought out another caution, drastically hurting his playoff chances. Jesse Love and Corey Day triggered another caution after a collision, while late incidents involving Carson Ware and Taylor Gray shuffled the running order. Through it all, Almirola’s decision to stay out during the final caution periods proved decisive.
Full Results
| Pos | # | Driver |
| 1 | 19 | Aric Almirola |
| 2 | 0 | Sheldon Creed (P) |
| 3 | 41 | Sam Mayer (P) |
| 4 | 1 | Carson Kvapil (P) |
| 5 | 88 | Connor Zilisch (P) |
| 6 | 7 | Justin Allgaier (P) |
| 7 | 25 | Harrison Burton (P) |
| 8 | 16 | Christian Eckes (P) |
| 9 | 51 | Jeremy Clements |
| 10 | 44 | Brennan Poole |
| 11 | 20 | Brandon Jones (P) |
| 12 | 26 | Dean Thompson |
| 13 | 48 | Nick Sanchez (P) |
| 14 | 54 | Taylor Gray (P) |
| 15 | 18 | William Sawalich |
| 16 | 4 | Parker Retzlaff |
| 17 | 17 | Corey Day |
| 18 | 27 | Jeb Burton |
| 19 | 21 | Austin Hill |
| 20 | 11 | Brenden Queen |
| 21 | 28 | Kyle Sieg |
| 22 | 42 | Anthony Alfredo |
| 23 | 39 | Ryan Sieg |
| 24 | 99 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 25 | 2 | Jesse Love (P) |
| 26 | 10 | Daniel Dye |
| 27 | 24 | Jeffrey Earnhardt |
| 28 | 45 | Josh Williams |
| 29 | 91 | Josh Bilicki |
| 30 | 14 | Logan Bearden |
| 31 | 32 | Austin Green |
| 32 | 70 | Leland Honeyman |
| 33 | 7 | Carson Ware |
| 34 | 31 | Blaine Perkins |
| 35 | 53 | Joey Gase |
| 36 | 35 | Stefan Parsons |
| 37 | 8 | Sammy Smith (P) |
| 38 | 71 | Ryan Ellis |
News in Brief: Food City 300 Results: Almirola’s Tire Gamble Leads Bristol Finish
Aric Almirola ended an eight-year Bristol absence with a masterful win in the Food City 300, holding off Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer in a caution-filled 300-lap Xfinity race. Almirola’s tire gamble delivered his ninth career series win and second of 2025, while Creed’s 15th runner-up extended his record for most second-place finishes without a victory. Playoff contenders saw mixed fortunes, highlighted by Connor Zilisch tying the record for consecutive top-fives.
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