Aric Almirola won the NASCAR XFINITY Series 26th Annual Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway

TALLADEGA, AL – MAY 06: Aric Almirola, driver of the #98 Fresh from Florida Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 6, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama.

Starting from 23rd place Car 98 Aric Almirola Fresh from Florida Ford won the 26th Annual Sparks Energy 300, his 3rd win in 99 NASCAR XFINITY Series races. This is his 1st win & 1st Top 10 finish in 2017. This is his 1st win & 4th Top 10 finish in 5 races at Talladega Superspeedway. 2nd Place Car 1 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet, started from 14th place posted his 6th Top 10 finish in 9 races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 8th Top 10 finish in 2017. 3rd Place Car 22 Joey Logano Discount Tire Ford, started from 8th place posted his 7th Top 10 finish in eight races at Talladega Superspeedway.

TALLADEGA, AL – MAY 06: Aric Almirola, driver of the #98 Fresh from Florida Ford, and his son, Alex, pose with the winner’s decal in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 6, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama.

4th Place Car 2 Ben Kennedy Rheem Chevrolet, started from 4th place followed by 5th place Car 20 Erik Jones Reser’s American Classic Toyota, started from 10th place. 6th Place Car 19 Matt Tifft Wastebits Toyota, started from 19th place was the highest finishing rookie. 7th Place Car 5 Michael Annett Pilot Flying J Chevrolet, started from 21st place. 8th Place Car 7 Justin Allgaier Hellmann’s Chevrolet, started from 6th place followed by 9th place Car 18 Daniel Suarez(i) Peak Antifreeze & Coolant Toyota, started from 18th place. Lastly in the Top 10 was Car 8 Jeff Green Toyota, in 10th place, started from 40th place. Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 29 points over Justin Allgaier.

TALLADEGA, AL – MAY 06: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #18 Peak Antifreeze & Coolant Toyota, and Brennan Poole, driver of the #48 DC Solar Chevrolet, have an on track incident during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 6, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama.

The race had 5 Cautions for 20 Laps: 1st Caution on lap 9 for fluid from Car 07 Ray Black II Double D Meat Co. Chevrolet in turn 1. 2nd Caution on lap 22 for Car 6 Darrell Wallace Jr. Globe Life Ford, Car 9 William Byron Liberty University Chevrolet, Car 18 Daniel Suarez Peak Antifreeze & Coolant Toyota, Car 21 Daniel Hemric Blue Gate Bank Chevrolet, Car 23 Spencer Gallagher Allegiant Airlines Chevrolet, Car 24 Scott Lagasse Jr. JGL Racing Young Guns Toyota, Car 33 Brandon Jones Nexteer Chevrolet, Car 42 Tyler Reddick BBR/Jason Aldean Chevrolet, Car 48 Brennan Poole DC Solar Chevrolet Big Crash in turn 3 [Red Flag: 9:28]. 3rd Caution on lap 27 for Stage 1 conclusion. 4th Caution on lap 51 for Car 00 Cole Custer Haas Automation Ford, Car 11 Blake Koch LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, Car 16 Ryan Reed Lilly Diabetes Ford, Car 24 Scott Lagasse Jr. JGL Racing Young Guns Toyota, Car 25 Chris Cockrum Advanced Communications Group Chevrolet, Car 62 Brendan Gaughan South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet, Car 90 Martin Roy Cote/Gamache Truck Center Chevrolet, Car 98 Aric Almirola(i) Fresh from Florida Ford 2nd Big Crash in turn 1 [Red Flag: 11:05] Stage 2. 5th Caution on lap 99 for debris on frontstretch.

TALLADEGA, AL – MAY 06: Blake Koch, driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, and Kasey Kahne, driver of the #88 Armour Chevrolet, lead the field past the green flag to start the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 6, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama.

The race had 27 Lead Changes among 13 drivers: Lap Leaders: B. Koch 0; K. Kahne(i) 1-5; B. Kennedy 6-10; B. Koch 11; K. Kahne(i) 12-13; D. Suarez(i) 14; K. Kahne(i) 15; J. Logano(i) 16-19; A. Almirola(i) 20-27; M. Annett 28-33; T. Dillon(i) 34-37; J. Logano(i) 38-46; E. Jones(i) 47; J. Allgaier 48-51; G. Smithley 52; J. Allgaier 53-58; E. Jones(i) 59; A. Almirola(i) 60; K. Kahne(i) 61-70; E. Jones(i) 71; J. Green 72-89; R. Chastain 90; J. Allgaier 91-104; J. Logano(i) 105-106; E. Jones(i) 107; J. Logano(i) 108; E. Jones(i) 109; A. Almirola(i) 110-113. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): J. Allgaier 3 times for 24 laps; J. Green 1 time for 18 laps; K. Kahne(i) 4 times for 18 laps; J. Logano(i) 4 times for 16 laps; A. Almirola(i) 3 times for 13 laps; M. Annett 1 time for 6 laps; B. Kennedy 1 time for 5 laps; E. Jones(i) 5 times for 5 laps; T. Dillon(i) 1 time for 4 laps; R. Chastain 1 time for 1 lap; G. Smithley 1 time for 1 lap; B. Koch 1 time for 1 lap; D. Suarez(i) 1 time for 1 lap.

TALLADEGA, AL – MAY 06: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Reser’s American Classic Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 6, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama.

Stages:
Stage #1 Top Ten: 98,22,7,20,11,5,62,88,14,39
Stage #2 Top Ten: 7,3,88,98,20,22,42,5,19,2

TALLADEGA, AL – MAY 06: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #88 Armour Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 6, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama.

Aric Almirola won the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Talladega with a Margin of Victory: 0.142 Seconds. Almirola said “They let me run this thing seven or eight times a year, and I have so much fun, especially at the speedway races. I knew it right from the beginning of practice. We ran about 10 laps in practice and I said, ‘Put it on jack stands. We’re ready to go. This thing is fast.’ “What an awesome day.”

TALLADEGA, AL – MAY 06: Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 6, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama.

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race Number 9
Unofficial Race Results for the 26Th Annual Sparks Energy 300 – Saturday, May 6, 2017
Talladega Superspeedway – Talladega, AL – 2.66 Mile Paved
Total Race Length – 113 Laps – 300.58 Miles

Finish Start Car Driver Team Laps Status
1. 23. Car 98 Aric Almirola(i) Fresh from Florida Ford 113 Running
2. 14. Car 1 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet 113 Running
3. 8. Car 22 Joey Logano(i) Discount Tire Ford 113 Running
4. 4. Car 2 Ben Kennedy Rheem Chevrolet 113 Running
5. 10. Car 20 Erik Jones(i) Reser’s American Classic Toyota 113 Running
6. 19. Car 19 Matt Tifft # Wastebits Toyota 113 Running
7. 21. Car 5 Michael Annett Pilot Flying J Chevrolet 113 Running
8. 6. Car 7 Justin Allgaier Hellmann’s Chevrolet 113 Running
9. 18. Car 18 Daniel Suarez(i) Peak Antifreeze & Coolant Toyota 113 Running
10. 40. Car 8 Jeff Green Toyota 113 Running
11. 31. Car 14 JJ Yeley Superior Essex Toyota 113 Running
12. 30. Car 39 Ryan Sieg Alabama Soda & Abrasive Blasting Chevrolet 113 Running
13. 22. Car 6 Darrell Wallace Jr. Globe Life Ford 112 Running
14. 7. Car 3 Ty Dillon(i) Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet 112 Running
15. 2. Car 88 Kasey Kahne(i) Armour Chevrolet 112 Running
16. 35. Car 52 Joey Gase Sparks Energy/Donate Life Chevrolet 112 Running
17. 37. Car 40 Timmy Hill CrashClaimsR.Us/X-treme PH Dodge 112 Running
18. 32. Car 99 David Starr Whataburger Chevrolet 112 Running
19. 25. Car 4 Ross Chastain GK Services Chevrolet 112 Running
20. 16. Car 42 Tyler Reddick BBR/Jason Aldean Chevrolet 112 Running
21. 29. Car 0 Garrett Smithley teamjdmotorsports.com Chevrolet 112 Running
22. 38. Car 01 Harrison Rhodes teamjdmotorsports.com Chevrolet 112 Running
23. 15. Car 28 Dakoda Armstrong WinField United Toyota 112 Running
24. 12. Car 48 Brennan Poole DC Solar Chevrolet 111 Running
25. 28. Car 74 Mike Harmon Veterans Motorsports Dodge 110 Running
26. 13. Car 00 Cole Custer # Haas Automation Ford 95 Running
27. 39. Car 51 Jeremy Clements RepairableVehicles.com/St. Clair Foods Chevrolet 55 Electrical
28. 26. Car 13 Mark Thompson Phoenix Air Toyota 55 Engine
29. 11. Car 16 Ryan Reed Lilly Diabetes Ford 49 Accident
30. 17. Car 62 Brendan Gaughan South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet 49 Accident
31. 1. Car 11 Blake Koch LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet 49 Accident
32. 36. Car 90 Martin Roy Cote/Gamache Truck Center Chevrolet 49 Accident
33. 27. Car 25 Chris Cockrum Advanced Communications Group Chevrolet 49 Accident
34. 24. Car 24 Scott Lagasse Jr. JGL Racing Young Guns Toyota 48 Accident
35. 33. Car 89 Morgan Shepherd Talladega Chevrolet 32 Fuel Pump
36. 9. Car 9 William Byron # Liberty University Chevrolet 32 Accident
37. 5. Car 33 Brandon Jones Nexteer Chevrolet 20 Accident
38. 3. Car 21 Daniel Hemric # Blue Gate Bank Chevrolet 20 Accident
39. 20. Car 23 Spencer Gallagher # Allegiant Airlines Chevrolet 20 Accident
40. 34. Car 07 Ray Black II Double D Meat Co. Chevrolet 7 Engine

Race Comments: Prior to the start of the race, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field for the reasons indicated: No. 24 (unapproved adjustments), No. 48 (unapproved adjustments) and No. 89 (unapproved adjustments). Failed to Qualify: (1) 78 BJ McLeod.

Time of Race: 02 Hrs, 09 Mins, 41 Secs. Average Speed: 139.068 MPH. Margin of Victory: 0.142 Seconds. Caution Flags: 5 for 20 laps. Lead Changes: 28 among 14 drivers.

Coors Light Pole Award: Blake Koch, #11 183.49 mph. Duralast Brakes “Brake in the Race”: Ben Kennedy, #2. Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Roush Yates Engines, #98. Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Aric Almirola, #98. Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Matt Tifft, #19.

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Next Race: May. 27, 2017 – Charlotte Motor Speedway

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