Race 24 of 33: Winn Dixie 250 Powered By Coca Cola at Daytona International Speedway
Track Specs: 2.5 mile Superspeedway
Race Winner: Ryan Sieg
Kvapil’s finish: P3
Allagier’s finish: P6
Caruth’s finish: P32
Smith’s finish: P36
Carson Kvapil
Carson Kvapil, driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, qualified in the second position for the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday evening. The JR Motorsports driver maintained his front running position all throughout the first stage and finished the stage in the second position. Kvapil came to pit road for adjustments to tighten up his race car following the first stage. The handling on the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet was much improved during the second stage. When the green-and-checkered flag waved at the end of the second stage, Kvapil was scored in third. The third stage started and Kvapil quickly took over the top spot on lap 66. The JR Motorsports driver controlled the race and led the next 32 laps. A late race caution came out with two laps remaining, which sent the race into NASCAR Overtime. In the end, Kvapil crossed the finish line for the final time in the third position. Kvapil led a race high 50 laps.
“It was a disappointing end to an overall great race for this No. 1 Bass Pro Shops team. Rodney (Childers, crew chief) and this entire No. 1 team brought a hot rod to the track this weekend. It feels good to be entering The Chase with all this momentum we have right now. We will get back to work and be ready to get The Chase started next weekend in Darlington. I can’t thank Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops enough for their continued support.”
Justin Allgaier
Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 Carolina Carports Chevrolet, closed out theregular season with a solid top-10 finish on Friday night in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Daytona International Speedway, taking the checkered flag in the sixth
position. With tonight’s result, Allgaier ends the regular season leading the NOAPS in wins (six), top-fives (14) and top-10s (18). Allgaier enters next weekend’s opening race in The Chase at Darlington Raceway as the top seed, 25 points above second place with nine races remaining in the season. The Illinois native is the most recent winner at “The Track Too Tough to Tame,” going to Victory Lane in March of this year after leading for 31 laps. Overall, Darlington has been a strong track for Allgaier, as the JR Motorsports driver has earned four wins, 10 top-fives and 17 top-10s in 21 NOAPS starts.
“Man, what a day. Really proud of everyone on this No. 88 team for continuing to fight and making our car better all race long. Really thankful to Mr. H, Ms. Linda, Dale, Kelley and LW for believing in me, and everyone at HendrickCars.com and the Hendrick engine shop, Chevrolet, KOA, Wilde and NAPA for all their support. We know how important every position is for us in the points right now, so to capitalize at the end and come home second is huge. We wanted one more spot, but we’ll take the momentum and keep fighting.”
Rajah Caruth
Rajah Caruth and the No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet started from the pole Friday night at Daytona International Speedway and immediately showed speed at the front of the field. Caruth led the opening five laps and remained a fixture inside the top six throughout the first stage. After reporting that the No. 88 was push-loose off turn four, Caruth closed out the opening stage in the third position. Caruth restarted stage two from fifth and continued to work his way toward the front, moving into second before a caution on lap 44. Following the restart, he reclaimed the lead on lap 53 and went on to earn the stage two victory. The team made an air-pressure adjustment duringa four-tire and fuel stop before the final stage. Restarting 10th, Caruth quickly returned to the top five and worked his way to second by lap 81. He remained in the runner-up position entering the closing laps before contact from another competitor sent the No. 88 spinning on lap 96. The incident resulted in right-side and rear damage, forcing Caruth to pit for repairs and costing the team two laps. After spending much of the night battling at the front of the field, Caruth ultimately crossed the finish line in 32nd., enough to secure a spot in the Chase.
“It’s great to be locked into The Chase. Tonight, didn’t end like we were hoping, but I’m really grateful to be racing for a championship. Huge thanks to JRM, Mr. H and Ms. Linda, Dale, Kelley and LW, and everyone at Hendrick Automotive Group. Now it’s time to get ready and give it all we have.”
Sammy Smith
Sammy Smith, driver of the No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet, qualified fifth for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona International Speedway. The JR Motorsports driver ran within the top-five for the majority of the race until contact through the tri-oval turned Smith hard into thewall on lap 45, bringing an early end to the teams’ night and ultimately leading to a 36th-place finish.
Smith started fifth and quickly linked up with his JRM teammates who started on the front row. A caution on lap 28 of 30 in Stage One brought an end to the stage according to NASCAR’s newly implemented rule. The No. 8 driver reported feeling a little tight on exit so crew chief Cory Shea called him down pit road for fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. On lap 36 the NOAPS field took the green for Stage Two with Smith in seventh. Smith worked his way up to fourth when he was unfortunately turned into the wall on lap 45, ending the teams’ night early. Fortunately, Smith was already locked into The Chase so the 36th-place finish did not affect their chances. Smith enters the opening race of The Chase as the eighth seed.
“I’m disappointed that our night ended the way it did, we had a fast No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet today but I’m glad we were already locked into The Chase and this didn’t put us in a bad spot there. I’m also grateful to everyone at JRM for the safe cars they build. I’m ready to get The Chase started at Darlington with this No. 8 team.”