Entry List

The official 2021 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series entry list features top NASCAR drivers set to compete at Darlington Raceway, highlighting the full lineup of race participants and teams.

Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200

Saturday, September 4th, 2021

Darlington Raceway, Darlington, SC

  • 27 Chevrolet
  • 9 Toyota
  • 5 Ford

  • Darlington Raceway
  • Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200
  • Pole Winner: Daniel Hemric
  • Age: 30
  • Team: No. 18 - Poppy Bank Toyota
  • Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing
  • Crew Chief: Dave Rogers
  • Start positions set by NASCAR's Performance Metrics Qualifying (PMQ).
  • Daniel Hemric won the Pole Award for the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 by having the highest total PMQ.
  • PMQ is a total number calculated on four performance metrics from the previous race:
  • 15% of the driver's fastest lap time position.
  • 25% of the driver's final race finish position.
  • 25% of the owner's final race position.
  • 35% of the Owner Points position.

  • Saturday, September 4th, 2021
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Reid Spencer
Noah Gragson snags first 2021 victory with strong run at Darlington

Fresh from the announcement of his return to JR Motorsports next year, Noah Gragson sped to victory at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, clinching a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

After pre-race favorite Denny Hamlin was sent to the rear under penalty for an equipment violation during a pit stop under caution on Lap 139, Gragson grabbed the lead from Daniel Hemric on Lap 143 and held it the rest of the way.

Gragson's victory in the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at the 1.366-mile speedway was his first of the season, his first at Darlington and the third of his career.

After debris from a Hemric spin on Lap 144 caused the eighth caution of the afternoon and sent the race to overtime, Gragson surged ahead on the final restart and finished .218 seconds ahead of runner-up Harrison Burton.

Reigning series champion Austin Cindric ran third, closing to a single point his deficit to current series leader AJ Allmendinger, who finished 20th after pitting under the final caution because of a loose wheel.

"It's been way too long," said Gragson, who celebrated by climbing the frontstretch catchfence with his team after climbing from his car. "I hate that the 54 (Hamlin) ...something happened to him on pit road. It was pretty fun racing there.

"We made good adjustments on the pit stops ... And like you said, it's been way too long. A lot of frustration this year, and things haven't gone our way, but we're getting some momentum when we need to, and I just can't thank everybody enough on this No. 9 team."

Hamlin appeared headed for his sixth Xfinity Series victory at Darlington when Brandon Jones spun off Turn 4 on Lap 138 of a scheduled 147. On the ensuing pit stop for new tires, Hamlin's crew was penalized for bringing equipment over the wall too soon, ending the driver's chances for a win.

Gragson took the checkered flag on Lap 152 at the end of the only overtime attempt. The victory marked his fifth straight finish of seventh or better.

Cindric took advantage of Allmendinger's late issue to set up a tight battle for the regular-season championship with two races left before the 12-driver Playoff field is set.

"We did a solid job all day trying to execute but we weren't perfect," Cindric said. "I'm proud of what we gained today with the Snap-On Ford Mustang. It's definitely the best race I feel like I've had at Darlington, just having the strength and not having too many weaknesses.

"As a team, that takes a lot of conversations throughout the week to try to get that right, so we righted a lot of wrongs for me at this race track today. I feel good about that."

Justin Haley, last weekend's Daytona winner, finished fourth, followed by Kaulig racing teammate Jeb Burton. Justin Allgaier, Tyler Reddick, Jeremy Clements, Myatt Snider and Alex Labbe completed the top 10.

There were eight cautions for a total of 41 laps and 19 lead changes among eight drivers. Hamlin, who finished 12th, led a race-high 43 laps. Gragson was out front for 40 circuits.

According to Cindric, the fresh strip of pavement in Turn 2 seemed to gain grip throughout the race but did not play a significant role in the outcome.

"Today when we showed up it was a construction site, and now it's a race track," Cindric said. "That's the way I see it. It's dirty. It's new asphalt. We're the first cars to run on it. It gained grip throughout the day. It got cleaned throughout the day. It got more raceable throughout the day. I don't think it will be much of a story line tomorrow (in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race)."

  • Drivers Entered: 41 (3 drivers will not make the race)
  • Laps Scheduled: 147
  • Laps Actual: 152 - NASCAR OVERTIME!
  • Margin of Victory: 0.219 Seconds
  • Time of Race: 2 Hours 1 Minutes 38 Seconds
  • Average Speed: 102.422
  • Cautions: 8 for 41 laps
  • Lead Changes: 19
  • Green Flag Passes: 1,191 (10.7 passes per green flag lap)

  • Darlington Raceway
  • 39th Annual Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200
  • Race Winner: Noah Gragson
  • Age: 23
  • Team: No. 9 - Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/BRCC Chevrolet
  • Owner: Rick Hendrick
  • Crew Chief: David Elenz
  • Noah Gragson won the 39th Annual Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200, his third victory in 93 Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his first victory and 15th top-10 finish in 2021.
  • This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in five races at Darlington Raceway.
  • Harrison Burton (second) posted his third top-10 finish in four races at Darlington Raceway. It is his 17th top-10 finish in 2021.
  • Austin Cindric (third) posted his third top-10 finish in six races at Darlington Raceway.
  • Jade Buford (21st) was the highest finishing rookie.
NASCAR Xfinity Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200
Darlington, South Carolina - September 5, 2020 : Justin Haley, driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, and Ross Chastain, driver of the #10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet, lead the field during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway.
Jared C TiltonGetty Images
Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway Entry List
ENTRY # DRIVER HOMETOWN DOB AGE MAKE SPONSOR TEAM CREW CHIEF
1 16 AJ Allmendinger Los Gatos, CA Dec 16, 1981 39 Chevrolet Hyperice Kaulig Racing Jason Trinchere
2 54 Denny Hamlin Chesterfield, VA Nov 18, 1980 40 Toyota Sport Clips Haircuts Joe Gibbs Racing Chris Gayle
3 4 Landon Cassill Cedar Rapids, IA Jul 7, 1989 32 Chevrolet Voyager JD Motorsports Tommy Machek
4 31 Austin Dillon Lewisville, NC Apr 27, 1990 31 Chevrolet Swann Security / Bommarito.com Jordan Anderson Racing Arthur Haire
5 61 David Starr Houston, TX Nov 11, 1967 53 Toyota Whataburger Hattori Racing Enterprises Doug Richert
6 66 Timmy Hill Port Tobacco, MD Feb 25, 1993 28 Ford Richardson Services Motorsports Business Management Carl Long
7 7 Justin Allgaier Riverton, IL Jun 6, 1986 35 Chevrolet Breyers Foods Lion Feeds JR Motorsports Jason Burdett
8 1 Michael Annett Des Moines, IA Jun 23, 1986 35 Chevrolet PFJ Thank A Trucker JR Motorsports Mike Bumgarner
9 02 Brett Moffitt Grimes, IA Aug 7, 1992 29 Chevrolet Fr8Auctions Our Motorsports Pat Tryson
10 10 Jeb Burton Halifax, VA Aug 6, 1992 29 Chevrolet Nutrien AG Solutions Kaulig Racing Bruce Schlicker
11 90 BJ McLeod Wauchula, FL Nov 17, 1983 37 Chevrolet DGM Racing DGM Racing Mario Gosselin
12 0 Jeffrey Earnhardt Mooresville, NC Jun 22, 1989 32 Chevrolet TeamJDMotorsports.com JD Motorsports Paul Clapprood
13 199 Ryan Ellis Torrence, CA Nov 29, 1989 31 Ford CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts BJ McLeod Motorsports David Ingram
14 52 Gray Gaulding Colonial Heights, VA Feb 10, 1998 23 Chevrolet Panini America Means Motorsports Tim Brown
15 39 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA Jun 20, 1987 34 Ford CMR Construction and Roofing / A-Game RSS Racing Kevin Starland
16 47 Kyle Weatherman Wentzville, MO Aug 28, 1997 24 Chevrolet NWTF / Big Frig Mike Harmon Racing Mike Tyska
17 18 Daniel Hemric Kannapolis, NC Jan 27, 1991 30 Toyota Poppy Bank Joe Gibbs Racing Dave Rogers
18 13 Chad Finchum Knoxville, TN Sep 22, 1994 26 Toyota Unsponsored Motorsports Business Management Sebastian Laforge
19 178 Jesse Little Sherrills Ford, NC Apr 15, 1997 24 Toyota Shriners Hospitals 4 Children BJ McLeod Motorsports Adam Brooks
20 23 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA Jan 11, 1996 25 Chevrolet Robert B. Our Co. Inc. Our Motorsports Kenneth Roettger
21 11 Justin Haley Winamac, IN Apr 28, 1999 22 Chevrolet LeafFilter Gutter Protection Kaulig Racing Alex Yontz
22 36 Alex Labbe Saint-Albert, Canada Apr 29, 1993 28 Chevrolet Globocam / Workpro Tools DGM Racing BJ Tucker
23 22 Austin Cindric Columbus, OH Sep 2, 1998 23 Ford Snap On Team Penske Brian Wilson
24 68 Brandon Brown Woodbridge, VA Sep 14, 1993 27 Chevrolet Original Larry's Hard Lemonade Brandonbilt Motorsports Doug Randolph
25 19 Brandon Jones Atlanta, GA Feb 18, 1997 24 Toyota Menards / Bali Joe Gibbs Racing Jeff Meendering
26 26 Colin Garrett Paces, VA Jul 6, 2000 21 Toyota Mohawk Matt Sam Hunt Racing Andrew Abbott
27 20 Harrison Burton Huntersville, NC Oct 9, 2000 20 Toyota DEX Imaging Joe Gibbs Racing Jason Ratcliff
28 51 Jeremy Clements Spartanburg, SC Jan 16, 1985 36 Chevrolet One Stop / ASE Jeremy Clements Racing Mark Setzer
29 07 Joe Graf Jr Mahwah, NJ Jul 12, 1998 23 Chevrolet SPORTBLX SS Green Light Racing Joe Williams
30 92 Josh Williams Port Charlotte, FL Aug 3, 1993 28 Chevrolet Workpro Tools DGM Racing Nathan Kennedy
31 105 Matt Mills Lynchburg, VA Nov 14, 1996 24 Toyota JF Electric BJ McLeod Motorsports Keith Wolfe
32 2 Myatt Snider Charlotte, NC Dec 30, 1994 26 Chevrolet Crosley Furniture Richard Childress Racing Andy Street
33 9 Noah Gragson Las Vegas, NV Jul 15, 1998 23 Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / BRCC JR Motorsports Dave Elenz
34 98 Riley Herbst Las Vegas, NV Feb 24, 1999 22 Ford Monster Energy Stewart-Haas Racing Richard Boswell
35 44 Tommy Joe Martins Como, MS Dec 7, 1986 34 Chevrolet Capital City Hauling Martins Motorsports Dan Stillman
36 17 Mason Massey Douglasville, GA Jan 24, 1997 24 Chevrolet AndersonPower / Gerber C & G SS Green Light Racing Jason Miller
37 15 Colby Howard Simpsonville, SC Oct 28, 2001 19 Chevrolet Project Hope Foundation JD Motorsports Wayne Carroll Jr
38 74 Carson Ware Jamestown, NC Feb 28, 2000 21 Chevrolet Jacob Companies Mike Harmon Racing Ed Jewett
39 48 Jade Buford Brentwood, TN Feb 15, 1988 33 Chevrolet Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Big Machine Racing Patrick Donahue
40 6 Ryan Vargas La Miranda, CA Sep 23, 2000 20 Chevrolet Monarch Roofing JD Motorsports Kase Kallenbach
41 8 Sam Mayer Franklin, WI Jun 26, 2003 18 Chevrolet QPS Employment Group JR Motorsports Taylor Moyer