XFINITY Series Phoenix Raceway

NASCAR XFINITY Series

Practice #1

The 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship NASCAR XFINITY Series practice results offer insights into driver performance, including lap times, top speeds, and practice session leaders at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship

Saturday, November 6th, 2021

Phoenix Raceway, Phoenix, AZ

  • 26 Chevrolet
  • 6 Toyota
  • 4 Ford

  • Phoenix Raceway
  • 23rd Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race
  • Pole Winner: Austin Cindric
  • Age: 23
  • Team : No. 22 - CarShop Ford
  • Owner: Team Penske
  • Crew Chief: Brian Wilson
  • Austin Cindric won the Pole Award for the 23rd Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race with a lap of 27.293 seconds, 131.902 mph.
  • This is his eighth pole in 133 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his first pole and 29th top-10 start in 2021.
  • This is his first pole in eight races at Phoenix Raceway.
  • John Hunter Nemechek (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2021 and his second in four races at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Justin Allgaier (third) posted his 15th top-10 start at Phoenix Raceway. It is his 25th in 33 races this season.
  • Sam Mayer (11th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.

  • Saturday, November 6th, 2021
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Reid Spencer
Daniel Hemric bags Xfinity championship with first NASCAR national series win

Daniel Hemric picked the perfect time to win his first NASCAR national series race—and a title came with it.

Executing an aggressive bump-and-run in Saturday night's NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race, Hemric passed Austin Cindric in the final two corners at Phoenix Raceway.

Approaching the finish line, the cars collided side-to-side, with Hemric crossing the stripe .030 seconds ahead of Cindric—roughly five feet—denying the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford a second straight championship.

The victory came in Hemric's 208th NASCAR national series start, silencing critics who kept asking, "Will Hemric ever win a race?"

The answer came from crew chief Dave Rogers moments after the winning driver crossed the stripe and clinched the title.

"How about that, champion?" Rogers said. "You'll never have to hear that stupid question again."

"Never again!" Hemric shouted in reply.

Hemric, who is leaving the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in favor of a ride with Kaulig Racing next year, was unapologetic about moving Cindric's Ford up the track to win the race at the end of a two-lap overtime that extended the event from 200 to 204 laps.

"I'm blacked out, blacked out," Hemric said at the start/finish line after turning a back flip off the roof of his car. "Just knew I had to be the first one to the line. I thought I let him get too much of a run off of (Turn) 4 (on the first lap of overtime).

"Drove into (Turn) 1, knew I was close, not to completely use them up, but we work our asses off for an opportunity like this—excuse my language. This is what it's all about, winning at the second highest level in all of motorsports. What an honor...

"How about those race fans? That back flip good enough for you? I've been waiting a long damn time to do that."

Cindric took the loss with consummate grace.

"Until you spin somebody out, it's not dirty racing," said Cindric, who entered the championship event with five wins to his credit this season. "If everyone in the stands enjoyed it, it's good racing.

"I'm appreciative of the opportunity to race on such a big stage, race for Roger Penske, represent Ford Performance, all of our sponsors that helped us this season. It would have been awesome to finish this out. I felt like we had a dominant race car, felt like we did everything right. Come up a little short."

As a consolation prize, Cindric secured the Xfinity Series Owners Championship for Roger Penske with his runner-up result.

The other two Championship 4 drivers - Noah Gragson and AJ Allmendinger - were in contention at the end. Gragson slammed the wall shortly after a restart on Lap 193 and fell to 12th at the finish.

Allmendinger suffered a loose wheel late in the race and spun in Turn 2 on Lap 181, causing the eighth of 10 cautions. Cindric, who led a race-high 113 laps, had a commanding lead at the time, but the yellow bunched the field and set up the late-race shootout.

Harrison Burton ran third on Saturday, followed by Riley Herbst and Justin Haley. John Hunter Nemechek, Brandon Jones, Brett Moffitt, Justin Allgaier and Sheldon Creed completed the top 10.

  • Drivers Entered: 36
  • Laps Scheduled: 200
  • Laps Actual: 204 - NASCAR OVERTIME!
  • Margin of Victory: 0.030 Seconds
  • Time of Race: 2 Hours 22 Minutes 35 Seconds
  • Average Speed: 85.845
  • Cautions: 10 for 61 laps
  • Lead Changes: 16
  • Green Flag Passes: 1,833 (12.8 passes per green flag lap)

  • Phoenix Raceway
  • 23rd Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race
  • Race Winner: Daniel Hemric
  • Age: 30
  • Team : No. 18 - Poppy Bank Toyota
  • Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing
  • Crew Chief: Dave Rogers
  • Daniel Hemric won the 23rd Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race, his first victory in 120 Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his first victory and 21st top-10 finish in 2021.
  • This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in eight races at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Austin Cindric (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in eight races at Phoenix Raceway. It is his 26th top-10 finish in 2021.
  • Harrison Burton (third) posted his third top-10 finish in four races at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Sam Mayer (13th) was the highest finishing rookie.
  • Daniel Hemric wins the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Championship.
  • Team Penske's No. 22 team with driver Austin Cindric has won the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Owners Championship.
  • Ty Gibbs wins the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.
  • Chevrolet has clinched the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Manufacturers Championship - their series leading 22nd title.
  • Driver Champion: Daniel Hemric
  • Team: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra
  • Daniel Hemric has won his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship (2021).
  • Hemric is the 31st different drivers to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship.
  • Hemric won the season finale at Phoenix Raceway to claim the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series title – his first career victory.
  • Hemric made 33 starts this season posting one win, 15 top fives and 21 top 10s.
  • In the Playoffs this season, Hemric has posted one win, six top fives and six top 10s.
  • Hemric (Kannapolis) has become the seventh NASCAR Xfinity Series champion from the state of North Carolina; joining William Byron (2017 champion, Charlotte, N.C.), Austin Dillon (2013, Welcome, N.C.), Brian Vickers (2003, Thomasville, N.C.), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998, 1999, Kannapolis, N.C.), Jack Ingram (1985, 1982, Asheville, N.C.) and Sam Ard (1983, 1984, Asheboro, N.C.).
  • Driver Owner Champion: Joe Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing
  • This is Joe Gibbs Racing's third NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championships (Kyle Busch, 2009, Daniel Suarez, 2019 and Daniel Hemric, 2021). Joe Gibbs Racing also has five NASCAR Xfinity Series owner championship (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016).
  • Joe Gibbs Racing is one of 20 different organizations to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship, and one of 19 different organizations to win the owner championship.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing has posted 185 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins among 20 different drivers – Aric Almirola, Bobby Labonte, Brandon Jones, Christopher Bell, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin, Elliott Sadler, Erik Jones Harrison Burton, Joey Logano, John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Mike Bliss, Mike McLaughlin, Ryan Preece, Sam Hornish Jr., Tony Stewart, Ty Gibbs and Daniel Hemric.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing began its NASCAR Xfinity Series program in 1997 at Rockingham Speedway with NASCAR Hall of Famer driver Bobby Labonte.
  • Crew Chief Champion: Dave Rogers
  • This is Dave Rogers first career NASCAR Xfinity Series championship (2021). Rogers previous best finish in the Xfinity Series championship standings was fourth with Denny Hamlin in 2006.
  • Rogers is the 29th different crew chief to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series title.
  • Rogers has won 21 NASCAR Xfinity Series races with six different drivers: Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Aric Almirola, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Daniel Hemric.
  • Owner Champion: Team Penske (No. 22)
  • This is Team Penske's series leading sixth NASCAR Xfinity Series owner championship (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021). Clinched this season's title with driver Austin Cindric and the No. 22 team.
  • Owner Roger Penske fielded the team's first car in the series with NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace behind the wheel at Auto Club Speedway on October 19, 1997.
Noah Gragson sits in his car
Avondale, Arizona - November 5, 2021 : Noah Gragson, driver of the #9 Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/BRCC Chevrolet, sits in his car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.
Jared C TiltonGetty Images
NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway Practice results
# DRIVER MAKE RNK SPD TME BHND LAP LAPS 5- 10- 15- 20- 25- 30- 10-LAP FRM TO
16 AJ Allmendinger Chevrolet 7 129.065 27.893 0.283 6 35 27.757 0 0 0 0 0 128.139 1 10
07 JJ Yeley Chevrolet 25 127.038 28.338 0.728 1 15 28.552 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
Stephen Leicht 39 124.848 28.835 1.225 9 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
Landon Cassill 27 127.011 28.344 0.734 20 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
66 David Starr Toyota 38 125.083 28.781 1.171 3 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
Timmy Hill 34 125.883 28.598 0.988 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
7 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet 9 128.742 27.963 0.353 2 36 28.103 28.363 0 0 0 0 126.933 13 22
1 Michael Annett Chevrolet 13 128.434 28.030 0.420 7 44 28.146 28.200 28.346 0 0 0 127.350 2 11
02 Brett Moffitt Chevrolet 22 127.592 28.215 0.605 3 33 28.478 28.811 0 0 0 0 125.150 20 29
Joey Gase 42 123.499 29.150 1.540 11 25 29.385 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
10 Jeb Burton Chevrolet 5 129.282 27.846 0.236 26 26 28.208 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
0 Jeffrey Earnhardt Chevrolet 24 127.231 28.295 0.685 20 20 28.904 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
Ryan Ellis 40 124.844 28.836 1.226 2 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
26 Dylan Lupton Toyota 21 127.610 28.211 0.601 3 19 28.287 28.287 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
38 Ryan Sieg Ford 10 128.627 27.988 0.378 23 24 28.086 28.219 28.353 28.448 0 0 126.962 3 12
47 Kyle Weatherman Chevrolet 32 126.223 28.521 0.911 9 34 28.757 29.062 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
18 Daniel Hemric Toyota 3 129.828 27.729 0.119 9 39 27.347 27.347 27.347 0 0 0 127.762 23 32
15 Bayley Currey Chevrolet 26 127.015 28.343 0.733 24 24 28.654 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
11 Justin Haley Chevrolet 6 129.185 27.867 0.257 2 40 28.091 28.173 0 0 0 0 127.785 1 10
Spencer Boyd 41 124.232 28.978 1.368 20 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
54 John Hunter Nemechek Toyota 1 130.388 27.610 0.000 4 42 27.795 27.910 28.291 0 0 0 128.990 1 10
36 Alex Labbe Chevrolet 16 128.023 28.120 0.510 24 24 29.417 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
22 Austin Cindric Ford 2 130.284 27.632 0.022 2 34 28.262 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
68 Brandon Brown Chevrolet 30 126.609 28.434 0.824 13 22 28.606 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
19 Brandon Jones Toyota 14 128.324 28.054 0.444 9 18 27.941 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
20 Harrison Burton Toyota 8 128.866 27.936 0.326 8 35 28.053 28.186 28.254 0 0 0 127.728 15 24
51 Jeremy Clements Chevrolet 17 127.977 28.130 0.520 3 29 28.050 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
17 Joe Graf Jr Chevrolet 33 126.068 28.556 0.946 24 24 28.835 29.030 0 0 0 0 123.859 12 21
92 Josh Williams Chevrolet 19 127.868 28.154 0.544 29 29 28.685 28.816 0 0 0 0 124.939 1 10
105 Matt Mills Chevrolet 36 125.287 28.734 1.124 9 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
2 Myatt Snider Chevrolet 11 128.576 27.999 0.389 4 36 28.102 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
9 Noah Gragson Chevrolet 4 129.385 27.824 0.214 3 35 27.833 27.961 28.052 28.156 28.254 28.336 128.593 1 10
98 Riley Herbst Ford 18 127.873 28.153 0.543 7 42 28.115 28.191 0 0 0 0 127.155 2 11
44 Tommy Joe Martins Chevrolet 15 128.077 28.108 0.498 2 31 28.890 29.054 0 0 0 0 123.910 18 27
48 Jade Buford Chevrolet 29 126.796 28.392 0.782 8 41 28.432 28.578 0 0 0 0 125.983 4 13
106 Ryan Vargas Chevrolet 35 125.554 28.673 1.063 4 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
199 Stefan Parsons Chevrolet 28 126.926 28.363 0.753 8 14 28.704 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
178 Sheldon Creed Chevrolet 20 127.709 28.189 0.579 5 37 28.281 0 0 0 0 0 124.780 26 35
23 Blaine Perkins Chevrolet 31 126.396 28.482 0.872 2 38 28.113 29.091 0 0 0 0 123.757 21 30
39 Kyle Sieg Ford 37 125.248 28.743 1.133 22 38 28.809 28.901 29.012 0 0 0 124.569 20 29
8 Sam Mayer Chevrolet 12 128.530 28.009 0.399 5 52 28.160 28.243 28.328 28.429 28.491 0 127.467 2 11
31 Sage Karam Chevrolet 23 127.240 28.293 0.683 18 18 28.523 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0