Jul 13, 2024; Lengthy Pond, Pennsylvania, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Sequence driver Cole Custer raises the winner’s trophy in victory lane after successful the Discover The Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono Raceway. Obligatory Credit score: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports activities Reigning NASCAR Xfinity Sequence champion Cole Custer claimed his first win of the 2024 season Saturday, beating his closest championship challenger Justin Allgaier to the Discover the Pocono Mountains 225 checkered flag and giving Ford its first collection win of the 12 months.
Custer’s No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang took the lead from Allgaier on a restart with 9 laps remaining after which held off the JR Motorsports Chevy by .670 seconds to safe his 14th profession victory in an exciting end at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. He turns into the primary driver to win a number of NASCAR Xfinity Sequence races on the historic 2.5-mile observe — answering his 2019 win.
“You simply attempt to handle it the very best you may however it’s form of the luck of the draw who will get the very best push,” a smiling Custer stated of getting to carry off perennial championship contender Allgaier and third-place finisher and NASCAR Cup Sequence common William Byron within the closing laps.
“That was some Doug Yates horsepower proper there. We positively had it on the straightaways and man, I simply cannot say sufficient about these guys. They’ve labored so onerous this entire 12 months and simply have not had that ultimate outcome. To lastly get it, is so superior.”
Allgaier led a race-best 30 laps of the 90-lap race, with the 25-year-old Californian Custer out entrance for 25 laps — the 2 drivers every successful a stage. For Allgaier, his Stage 1 victory was a series-best eleventh, however a pit street penalty throughout the ensuing pit cease compelled him to work his means again up by means of the sector.
And even with all of the spectacular race statistics and compelling comeback storyline Saturday, it was lacking out on the trophy after such a powerful exhibiting that caught with Allgaier when he climbed out of his Chevrolet.
“Actually pleased with everybody at Junior Motorsports, simply actually stinks to return out of right here second,” Allgaier stated. “Led so many laps right here and really feel like similar outcome each time, simply not in a position to go to Victory Lane. … Simply got here up a little bit brief and it may sting for a short time.”
This 12 months’s Daytona 500 winner and the 2017 Xfinity Sequence champion Byron was making his third Xfinity Sequence begin of the season and stored the sector sincere, main 17 laps.
Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Sheldon Creed and Taylor Grey rounded out the Pocono prime 5. Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, Massive Machine Racing’s Parker Kligerman and JR Motorsports teammates Sammy Smith and Sam Mayer rounded out the highest 10.
Custer prolonged his lead atop the Xfinity Sequence championship and now holds a 51-point benefit on Allgaier. With seven races remaining to set the 12-driver playoff discipline, Smith holds a 23-point edge over Ryan Sieg for that twelfth place.
The NASCAR Xfinity Sequence returns to motion Saturday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway within the Pennzoil 250 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Community, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Community, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Ty Gibbs gained the race final 12 months on the Indianapolis Grand Prix Circuit. Kyle Busch gained the final NASCAR Xfinity Sequence race on the famed 2.5-mile oval in 2019.
NASCAR Xfinity Sequence Race – Discover The Pocono Mountains 225
Pocono Raceway
Lengthy Pond, Pennsylvania
Saturday, July 13, 2024
1. (8) Cole Custer, Ford, 90.
2. (3) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 90.
3. (6) William Byron(i), Chevrolet, 90.
4. (1) Sheldon Creed, Toyota, 90.
5. (4) Taylor Grey(i), Toyota, 90.
6. (10) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 90.
7. (11) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 90.
8. (15) Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 90.
9. (9) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 90.
10. (12) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 90.
11. (18) Riley Herbst, Ford, 90.
12. (7) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 90.
13. (2) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 90.
14. (16) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 90.
15. (5) Chandler Smith, Toyota, 90.
16. (25) Corey Heim(i), Toyota, 90.
17. (20) Daniel Dye(i), Chevrolet, 90.
18. (22) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 90.
19. (34) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 90.
20. (33) Kyle Sieg, Ford, 90.
21. (17) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 90.
22. (19) Jesse Love #, Chevrolet, 90.
23. (21) Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 90.
24. (23) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 90.
25. (28) Leland Honeyman #, Chevrolet, 90.
26. (27) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 90.
27. (14) Josh Berry(i), Ford, 90.
28. (37) Thomas Annunziata, Chevrolet, 90.
29. (31) Mason Massey(i), Ford, 90.
30. (24) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 90.
31. (26) Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 90.
32. (13) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 89.
33. (32) Patrick Emerling, Chevrolet, 89.
34. (35) Blaine Perkins, Ford, Suspension, 72.
35. (38) Stephen Mallozzi(i), Chevrolet, Engine, 68.
36. (30) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, Accident, 47.
37. (29) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, Electrical, 8.
38. (36) Dawson Cram(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 1.
Common Pace of Race Winner: 105.113 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 8 Minutes, 26 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.670 Seconds.
Warning Flags: 8 for 30 laps.
Lead Modifications: 10 amongst 7 drivers.
Lap Leaders: S. Creed 1-7;J. Allgaier 8-22;J. Love # 23-25;C. Custer 26-41;W. Byron(i) 42-50;J. Love # 51-54;W. Byron(i) 55-61;A. Hill 62;R. Sieg 63-66;J. Allgaier 67-81;C. Custer 82-90.
Leaders Abstract (Driver, Instances Lead, Laps Led): Justin Allgaier 2 instances for 30 laps; Cole Custer 2 instances for 25 laps; William Byron(i) 2 instances for 16 laps; Sheldon Creed 1 time for 7 laps; Jesse Love # 2 instances for 7 laps; Ryan Sieg 1 time for 4 laps; Austin Hill 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Prime Ten: 7,00,81,17,16,21,98,39,8,18
Stage #2 Prime Ten: 00,81,21,98,39,16,18,8,26,7
–By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Particular to Area Degree Media.
