NASCAR

NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans React To Aric Almirola Dominating National Debt Relief 250, Championship 4 Field Set At Martinsville Speedway

Author photo
By
Jeff Hawkins
Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Get to know Jeff Hawkins better
Sports Editor

Published02 Nov 2024

Disclosure
We publish independently audited information that meets our strong editorial guidelines. Be aware we may earn a commission if you purchase anything via links on our pages.
xfinity almirola smith battle in corner at martinsville (1)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Aric Almirola proved his spring effort at Martinsville Speedway was no fluke. The driver of the No. 20 Toyota led 150 of 250 laps en route to earning Saturday’s National Debt Relief 250 title. 

“We had a good car here in the spring, and we made a few changes because I wasn’t totally happy with it,” Almirola told NBC Sports. “We showed up (Saturday) and we were awful. They (the crew members) went to work last night and came up with a lot of changes to make to the car. It was so hooked up today, it was doing everything I wanted it to. 

“This is such a special place. This is by far my favorite racetrack.” 

With top-five finishes, Cole Custer, who had an animated Round of 8 finale, and Justin Allgaier advanced to next weekend’s Championship 4 race. They will compete for the circuit title against Austin Hill and AJ Allmendinger at Phoenix Raceway.  

With Almirola maintaining the lead off a series of restarts, drama unfolded between Cole Custer and Chandler Smith, both of whom were eliminated. Smith ended up slapping Custer after exchanging words along pit road. 

X (Twitter) users responded to Saturday’s green flag, the second to last race of the season … 

Smith told CW Sports that Almirola’s machine was “strong all day.” Like last spring when he led 148 laps … 

After climbing out of their machines, Smith approached Custer, which ignited a post-race mele … 

Custer said his post-race thoughts on Smith: “What comes around, goes around” … 

Smith responded … 

Flashback to 2007 … 

With fewer than 100 laps to go, Smith appeared to be out of the playoffs, 30 points out of the playoff chase. He needed to make something happen … 

With Almirola controlling the point, playoff driver Sam Mayer needed to catch up and create a win. The No. 1 Chevrolet smoked as the field restarted on Lap 227. Custer pushed Smith out of their Turn 1 groove, further agitating their feud, and both fell back. They later had words … 

The No. 1 machine soon went behind the wall and with it, the team’s playoff chances …  

Seven laps earlier, Smith bumped Custer out of the way to secure second place. Behind them, Brandon Jones and Sheldon Creed created a caution period … 

Running P29, Mason Maggio spun out along Turn 2 on Lap 103 after making contact with Preston Pardus’ machine … 

Almirola, who claimed both stages, showed off his machine’s muscle, winning Stage 1 after taking the outside lane and passing Custer by inches …  

Parker Retzlaff suffered a poor restart and Mayer’s bump delivered the pole-sitter into the Turn 1 wall on Lap 54 … 

Allmendinger’s competitive day ended early as his No. 16 Chevrolet lost a tire along Turn 3 on Lap 13 … 

The circuit’s Championship 4 will go for the title next weekend in the desert …