The 2024 Food City 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series pit stop performance data highlights the fastest pit stops, team efficiency, and crew performance from Bristol Motor Speedway.
Friday, September 20th, 2024
Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN
JR Motorsports driver Sammy Smith and Big Machine Racing driver Parker Kligerman would like nothing better than for the status quo to hold firm in Friday night’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Entering the cutoff race for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, 10 drivers already are locked into the seven-event postseason.
The only scenario that could eliminate Kligerman, who is 85 points above the current cut line, is a victory by a Playoff-eligible driver below the cutoff combined with a loss of more than 42 net points to Smith.
Kligerman can clinch a Playoff spot by scoring 14 points on Friday, no matter who wins the race.
Likewise, Smith has a commanding advantage for the final Playoff spot, unless a Playoff-eligible driver below him in the standings happens to win on Friday.
Smith leads Ryan Sieg by 43 points entering the first race to be broadcast by The CW, which subsequently will air all seven Playoff races in the series in anticipation of next year’s full-season schedule.
In two Xfinity starts at Bristol, Smith qualified sixth both times and posted finishes of 14th and ninth.
“I’m looking forward to running under the lights this Friday at Bristol as we contend for our position in the Playoffs,” Smith said. “I’ve had good runs there in the past, and JRM has always brought strong cars there, so I’m excited to get there and close out the regular season on a high note.”
The Xfinity regular-season title is also up for grabs, though Justin Allgaier has a commanding 43-point lead over reigning series champion Cole Custer entering the race that will decide who earns the 15-Playoff-point bonus.
Allgaier is the defending winner of the Food City 300. He’ll have a competitive teammate in his boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will make his first start of the season on Friday. Earnhardt led 47 laps in last year’s Bristol race before exiting with ignition problems after 271 of 300 circuits.
Cole Custer recovered from an early brush with the outside wall to win Friday’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the race that set the field for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
Custer’s second victory of the season, combined with a litany of trouble that befell Justin Allgaier, gave the driver of the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford an unlikely come-from-behind victory in the battle for the regular-season title and accompanying 15 Playoff-point bonus.
Custer, who led a race-high 104 laps, took the top spot for good with a pass of Sheldon Creed on Lap 209 of 300. In winning for the first time at Bristol and the 15th time in his career, Custer crossed the finish line 0.896 second ahead of Creed, who now has 13 runner-up finishes to his credit without an Xfinity win.
“This is huge, because our confidence was going down there the last month,” said Custer, the reigning series champion who will begin his title defense Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway. “To get this win really means a lot…
“It’s unbelievable. These guys never give up. It’s been a tough month, but to be able to lead into the Playoffs like this, we’re going to really bring it to them.”
The race also secured Playoff spots for the final two drivers on the postseason grid. Sammy Smith and Parker Kligerman finished 15th and 16th, respectively, to earn their Playoff berths.
Chandler Smith ran third and Jesse Love fourth on Friday, both having already secured Playoff spots. Ryan Truex was fifth, followed by Brandon Jones, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Sieg (who missed the final Playoff spot by 36 points) and Playoff-bound Sam Mayer.
The battle for the regular-season championship took more twists and turns than a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Custer hit the outside wall on Lap 2 and cut a tire, temporarily jeopardizing his second-place position in the standings.
But Justin Allgaier, the driver Custer was chasing for the regular-season title, had his own share of ill fortune on Lap 52. Having led every lap to that point, Allgaier was cruising toward what would have been his 15th stage win of the season when the Chevrolet of Austin Green bounced off the outside wall into Allgaier’s path.
Contact between the Camaros sheared the rear bumper cover off Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevy. After a pit stop to repair the car’s right-rear quarter panel, Allgaier continued. Allgaier pitted on Lap 60 and stayed on the track during the stage break after Lap 85, putting him fifth for a restart on Lap 96.
He was second for a restart on Lap 127 but his sojourn in the top five didn’t last. On Lap 153, contact between Creed’s Toyota and Allgaier’s Chevy sent the No. 7 down the track nose-first into the inside wall.
During repairs, Allgaier’s car dragged a saw out of the pits, incurring a penalty. From that point on, the JR Motorsports driver ran roughly three seconds off the pace, rapidly losing laps and positions.
When Custer took the race lead from Creed on Lap 209, he had the regular-season lead, having erased the 43-point advantage Allgaier carried into the race. With his victory, Custer secured the regular-season crown by three points over Allgaier, who nevertheless will enter the postseason as the top seed with 34 Playoff points to Custer’s 28.
“I don’t really have any words for tonight,” said Allgaier, who finished 30th, 10 laps down. “It started with getting the damage from the wreck in front of us. There was nothing we could do. And then, just racing, trying to get as many stage points as we could, and I think the 18 (Creed ) came off the wall a little bit.
“I’m really bummed about tonight. We’ll go back and talk about it … We had the best car tonight. It was very obvious from the beginning of the race that it was the best car, and nothing to show for it.”
Summary of each driver's pit stop during the race. Detailed Report is below the Summary Report.
DRIVER | ST | FIN | STATUS | PIT STOPS | AVG DRVR TIME | DRVR RANK | AVG CREW TIME | CREW RANK | AVG TTL TIME | TTL RANK | FST STOP | SLW STOP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chad Finchum | 18 | 32 | Running | 3 | 14.231 | 2 | 22.677 | 33 | 36.909 | 1 | 0.000 | 68.443 |
Carson Ware | 30 | 28 | Running | 2 | 13.932 | 1 | 25.008 | 35 | 38.940 | 2 | 0.000 | 77.879 |
Parker Kligerman | 11 | 16 | Running | 3 | 23.576 | 3 | 18.162 | 18 | 41.738 | 3 | 0.000 | 63.815 |
Kyle Sieg | 36 | 23 | Running | 3 | 25.078 | 4 | 18.300 | 19 | 43.378 | 4 | 0.000 | 67.847 |
Stefan Parsons | 23 | 33 | Running | 2 | 32.835 | 5 | 23.640 | 34 | 56.475 | 5 | 40.042 | 72.907 |
Sheldon Creed | 14 | 2 | Running | 2 | 44.495 | 6 | 15.165 | 4 | 59.660 | 6 | 58.211 | 61.109 |
Ryan Truex | 16 | 5 | Running | 2 | 44.800 | 9 | 14.998 | 2 | 59.798 | 7 | 59.461 | 60.134 |
Chandler Smith | 1 | 3 | Running | 2 | 44.563 | 7 | 15.574 | 7 | 60.136 | 8 | 59.869 | 60.403 |
Jesse Love | 10 | 4 | Running | 2 | 45.523 | 18 | 14.765 | 1 | 60.288 | 9 | 59.805 | 60.770 |
Riley Herbst | 15 | 13 | Running | 3 | 45.211 | 13 | 15.182 | 5 | 60.393 | 10 | 59.586 | 61.534 |
Brandon Jones | 8 | 6 | Running | 2 | 45.284 | 15 | 15.115 | 3 | 60.398 | 11 | 59.955 | 60.841 |
Austin Hill | 17 | 14 | Running | 2 | 45.168 | 12 | 15.232 | 6 | 60.400 | 12 | 60.314 | 60.485 |
Cole Custer | 2 | 1 | Running | 3 | 45.365 | 17 | 15.949 | 9 | 61.314 | 13 | 59.287 | 64.008 |
Sam Mayer | 20 | 9 | Running | 2 | 45.569 | 19 | 15.899 | 8 | 61.468 | 14 | 60.570 | 62.366 |
Dale Earnhardt Jr | 13 | 7 | Running | 1 | 44.619 | 8 | 17.651 | 14 | 62.270 | 15 | 62.270 | 62.270 |
Joe Graf Jr | 19 | 19 | Running | 2 | 46.062 | 25 | 16.433 | 11 | 62.495 | 16 | 61.766 | 63.224 |
Jeb Burton | 25 | 25 | Running | 1 | 46.260 | 27 | 16.383 | 10 | 62.643 | 17 | 62.643 | 62.643 |
Shane van Gisbergen | 34 | 18 | Running | 2 | 44.907 | 10 | 17.868 | 15 | 62.775 | 18 | 62.512 | 63.037 |
Ryan Sieg | 12 | 8 | Running | 2 | 45.778 | 21 | 17.050 | 12 | 62.828 | 19 | 62.227 | 63.428 |
Jeffrey Earnhardt | 6 | 35 | Accident | 2 | 44.969 | 11 | 17.918 | 16 | 62.886 | 20 | 61.703 | 64.069 |
Leland Honeyman Jr | 31 | 31 | Running | 2 | 46.247 | 26 | 17.084 | 13 | 63.331 | 21 | 54.469 | 72.193 |
Josh Williams | 32 | 21 | Running | 3 | 46.049 | 24 | 17.995 | 17 | 64.044 | 22 | 63.723 | 64.595 |
Sammy Smith | 21 | 15 | Running | 2 | 45.212 | 14 | 19.002 | 21 | 64.214 | 23 | 61.085 | 67.343 |
Brennan Poole | 29 | 17 | Running | 2 | 45.861 | 23 | 18.886 | 20 | 64.747 | 24 | 63.236 | 66.257 |
Kyle Weatherman | 9 | 26 | Running | 3 | 45.790 | 22 | 19.530 | 22 | 65.320 | 25 | 62.932 | 67.787 |
Anthony Alfredo | 3 | 11 | Running | 2 | 45.345 | 16 | 20.087 | 25 | 65.431 | 26 | 63.922 | 66.940 |
Jeremy Clements | 7 | 12 | Running | 2 | 46.842 | 30 | 19.603 | 23 | 66.444 | 27 | 65.915 | 66.973 |
Greg Van Alst | 38 | 29 | Running | 2 | 46.646 | 29 | 19.803 | 24 | 66.449 | 28 | 64.364 | 68.533 |
AJ Allmendinger | 5 | 10 | Running | 3 | 45.581 | 20 | 21.622 | 30 | 67.203 | 29 | 62.643 | 76.138 |
Blaine Perkins | 33 | 22 | Running | 2 | 46.959 | 32 | 20.320 | 26 | 67.279 | 30 | 63.866 | 70.691 |
Logan Bearden | 35 | 27 | Running | 2 | 46.492 | 28 | 21.421 | 29 | 67.913 | 31 | 66.327 | 69.498 |
Matt DiBenedetto | 24 | 34 | Running | 2 | 48.304 | 35 | 20.971 | 27 | 69.275 | 32 | 66.786 | 71.763 |
Josh Bilicki | 22 | 20 | Running | 2 | 46.872 | 31 | 22.422 | 32 | 69.294 | 33 | 68.992 | 69.596 |
Ryan Ellis | 26 | 24 | Running | 3 | 48.047 | 34 | 21.266 | 28 | 69.313 | 34 | 65.230 | 74.670 |
Garrett Smithley | 37 | 36 | Rear Gear | 1 | 47.566 | 33 | 22.022 | 31 | 69.588 | 35 | 69.588 | 69.588 |
Each 2- and 4-wheel pit stop during the race.
DRIVER | LDR LAP | DRV LAP | DRV TIME | CREW TIME | TOT TIME | TYPE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AJ Allmendinger | 89 | 89 | 45.092 | 17.551 | 62.643 | 4-wheel change |
AJ Allmendinger | 155 | 155 | 44.475 | 18.352 | 62.827 | 4-wheel change |
AJ Allmendinger | 173 | 173 | 47.176 | 28.962 | 76.138 | 4-wheel change |
Dale Earnhardt Jr | 155 | 155 | 44.619 | 17.651 | 62.270 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Truex | 89 | 89 | 44.980 | 14.481 | 59.461 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Truex | 155 | 155 | 44.619 | 15.515 | 60.134 | 4-wheel change |
Parker Kligerman | 122 | 122 | -19.352 | 19.352 | 0.000 | 4-wheel change |
Parker Kligerman | 89 | 89 | 45.084 | 16.316 | 61.400 | 4-wheel change |
Parker Kligerman | 173 | 173 | 44.996 | 18.819 | 63.815 | 4-wheel change |
Jeb Burton | 59 | 59 | 46.260 | 16.383 | 62.643 | 4-wheel change |
Matt DiBenedetto | 59 | 59 | 46.566 | 20.220 | 66.786 | 4-wheel change |
Matt DiBenedetto | 203 | 179 | 50.042 | 21.721 | 71.763 | 4-wheel change |
Jeffrey Earnhardt | 155 | 155 | 45.187 | 16.516 | 61.703 | 4-wheel change |
Jeffrey Earnhardt | 89 | 89 | 44.750 | 19.319 | 64.069 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Ellis | 155 | 155 | 47.145 | 18.085 | 65.230 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Ellis | 60 | 59 | 48.119 | 19.920 | 68.039 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Ellis | 90 | 90 | 48.878 | 25.792 | 74.670 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Sieg | 155 | 155 | 45.911 | 16.316 | 62.227 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Sieg | 59 | 59 | 45.644 | 17.784 | 63.428 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Weatherman | 155 | 155 | 45.548 | 17.384 | 62.932 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Weatherman | 89 | 89 | 45.556 | 19.686 | 65.242 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Weatherman | 202 | 202 | 46.266 | 21.521 | 67.787 | 4-wheel change |
Brennan Poole | 155 | 155 | 46.286 | 16.950 | 63.236 | 4-wheel change |
Brennan Poole | 89 | 89 | 45.436 | 20.821 | 66.257 | 4-wheel change |
Cole Custer | 155 | 155 | 45.107 | 14.180 | 59.287 | 4-wheel change |
Cole Custer | 89 | 89 | 45.264 | 15.382 | 60.646 | 4-wheel change |
Cole Custer | 5 | 5 | 45.723 | 18.285 | 64.008 | 4-wheel change |
Chad Finchum | 123 | 122 | -25.758 | 25.758 | 0.000 | 4-wheel change |
Chad Finchum | 293 | 276 | 21.563 | 20.720 | 42.283 | 4-wheel change |
Chad Finchum | 60 | 59 | 46.889 | 21.554 | 68.443 | 4-wheel change |
Garrett Smithley | 60 | 59 | 47.566 | 22.022 | 69.588 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Bilicki | 155 | 155 | 46.503 | 22.489 | 68.992 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Bilicki | 59 | 59 | 47.241 | 22.355 | 69.596 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Hill | 89 | 89 | 45.032 | 15.282 | 60.314 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Hill | 155 | 155 | 45.303 | 15.182 | 60.485 | 4-wheel change |
Brandon Jones | 155 | 155 | 44.974 | 14.981 | 59.955 | 4-wheel change |
Brandon Jones | 59 | 59 | 45.593 | 15.248 | 60.841 | 4-wheel change |
Jeremy Clements | 173 | 173 | 45.762 | 20.153 | 65.915 | 4-wheel change |
Jeremy Clements | 89 | 89 | 47.921 | 19.052 | 66.973 | 4-wheel change |
Joe Graf Jr | 89 | 89 | 45.250 | 16.516 | 61.766 | 4-wheel change |
Joe Graf Jr | 155 | 155 | 46.874 | 16.350 | 63.224 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Williams | 89 | 89 | 46.072 | 17.651 | 63.723 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Williams | 202 | 202 | 45.830 | 17.984 | 63.814 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Williams | 155 | 155 | 46.244 | 18.351 | 64.595 | 4-wheel change |
Riley Herbst | 155 | 155 | 44.871 | 14.715 | 59.586 | 4-wheel change |
Riley Herbst | 202 | 202 | 46.145 | 13.914 | 60.059 | 4-wheel change |
Riley Herbst | 89 | 89 | 44.617 | 16.917 | 61.534 | 4-wheel change |
Anthony Alfredo | 155 | 155 | 45.637 | 18.285 | 63.922 | 4-wheel change |
Anthony Alfredo | 89 | 89 | 45.052 | 21.888 | 66.940 | 4-wheel change |
Carson Ware | 123 | 122 | -22.922 | 22.922 | 0.000 | 4-wheel change |
Carson Ware | 60 | 59 | 50.785 | 27.094 | 77.879 | 4-wheel change |
Stefan Parsons | 254 | 237 | 20.389 | 19.653 | 40.042 | 4-wheel change |
Stefan Parsons | 90 | 75 | 45.280 | 27.627 | 72.907 | 4-wheel change |
Sheldon Creed | 89 | 89 | 44.564 | 13.647 | 58.211 | 4-wheel change |
Sheldon Creed | 155 | 155 | 44.426 | 16.683 | 61.109 | 4-wheel change |
Blaine Perkins | 174 | 174 | 47.016 | 16.850 | 63.866 | 4-wheel change |
Blaine Perkins | 60 | 59 | 46.901 | 23.790 | 70.691 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Sieg | 122 | 122 | -17.517 | 17.517 | 0.000 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Sieg | 59 | 59 | 46.039 | 16.249 | 62.288 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Sieg | 155 | 155 | 46.713 | 21.134 | 67.847 | 4-wheel change |
Sam Mayer | 155 | 155 | 45.288 | 15.282 | 60.570 | 4-wheel change |
Sam Mayer | 59 | 59 | 45.850 | 16.516 | 62.366 | 4-wheel change |
Chandler Smith | 155 | 155 | 44.438 | 15.431 | 59.869 | 4-wheel change |
Chandler Smith | 89 | 89 | 44.687 | 15.716 | 60.403 | 4-wheel change |
Logan Bearden | 156 | 156 | 47.575 | 18.752 | 66.327 | 4-wheel change |
Logan Bearden | 90 | 89 | 45.408 | 24.090 | 69.498 | 4-wheel change |
Sammy Smith | 59 | 59 | 45.236 | 15.849 | 61.085 | 4-wheel change |
Sammy Smith | 173 | 173 | 45.188 | 22.155 | 67.343 | 4-wheel change |
Leland Honeyman Jr | 176 | 168 | 45.493 | 8.976 | 54.469 | Left-sides only |
Leland Honeyman Jr | 60 | 52 | 47.001 | 25.192 | 72.193 | 4-wheel change |
Jesse Love | 89 | 89 | 44.957 | 14.848 | 59.805 | 4-wheel change |
Jesse Love | 155 | 155 | 46.089 | 14.681 | 60.770 | 4-wheel change |
Shane van Gisbergen | 155 | 155 | 44.928 | 17.584 | 62.512 | 4-wheel change |
Shane van Gisbergen | 90 | 89 | 44.886 | 18.151 | 63.037 | 4-wheel change |
Greg Van Alst | 174 | 170 | 46.847 | 17.517 | 64.364 | 4-wheel change |
Greg Van Alst | 60 | 58 | 46.445 | 22.088 | 68.533 | 4-wheel change |