Winners: Aric Almirola (Cup); Christopher Bell (Xfinity); Daniel Dye (ARCA West) plus Chase Elliott (SRX)
NASCAR Cup
Aric Almirola Shakes Up #NASCAR Cup Playoff Standings With Unexpected Win at New Hampshire
With a stunning victory in Sunday’s Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Aric Almirola sent shock waves through the NASCAR Cup Series’ Playoff standings.
With hard-charging Christopher Bell closing behind him, Almirola crossed the finish line at the 1.058-mile track .657 seconds ahead of the Joe Gibbs Racing driver to win the third race of his career and give Stewart-Haas Racing its first ostensible Playoff berth of the 2021 campaign.
“This is by far one of my favorite race tracks,” an elated Almirola said after taking the checkered flag. “I love coming up to the New England area and racing. I love this race track. I had this race won a couple of years ago, and I gave it away—I lost it. And I am so glad to win a race here with this race team.
“It’s so good, man. We’ve been through so much, and I just stood the test. Everybody has just been working so hard… There’ve been so many people who have continued to support us through the crappiest year ever. Man, this feels so good for them. My pit crew did a phenomenal job on pit road. There’s no doubt we’ve struggled, but guess what? We’re going Playoff racing.”
.@Aric_Almirola clawed his way to the top to win at @NHMS!🦞
— Mobil 1 The Grid (@Mobil1TheGrid) July 19, 2021
This was Almirola’s third career @NASCAR Cup Series victory, and his second since joining @StewartHaasRcng in 2018 💪#NASCAR @SmithfieldBrand pic.twitter.com/iEXugdFErs
NASCAR Xfinity
Christopher Bell Wins Third Straight Xfinity Race at New Hampshire
Kyle Busch had used up his eligibility for this year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Ty Gibbs had the week off. But the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota they have driven to a combined seven victories this season was still around—much to the chagrin of the series regulars.
Competing in the Xfinity Series for the first time since he finished third in the final standings in 2019, Christopher Bell led 151 of 200 laps, swept the first two stages and won Saturday’s Ambetter Get Vaccinated 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The victory was Bell’s third straight at the 1.058-mile track and the 17th of his career. It was the sixth straight win for Joe Gibbs Racing at New Hampshire, which did not host an Xfinity Series race last year because of schedule changes necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.
“What I’ve got figured out is I’ve got really, really fast race cars to drive,” said Bell, who started 14th and took the lead for the first time on Lap 44—one circuit before the end of the first stage. “I just love being here with Joe Gibbs Racing. All these Supras I’ve for the last three times I’ve been here have been amazing.
“Hopefully, the Camry is just a good tomorrow (in the NASCAR Cup Series race), but it just feels good to win.”
The track was tough. Chris Bell and the DEWALT #54 car were tougher. Congrats on the win @CBellRacing #NASCAR #TeamDEWALT pic.twitter.com/TPN15jbNoA
— DEWALT (@DEWALTtough) July 17, 2021
ARCA
Daniel Dye Wins First ARCA Menards Series Race in Dominating Fashion
The Ty Gibbs and Corey Heim party of 2021 in the ARCA Menards Series ended Saturday night at Berlin Raceway.
Daniel Dye became the series’ third winner in the 10th race of the season. And he did so in dominating fashion. The 17-year-old rookie started on the General Tire Pole and led all but two laps of the Zinsser SmartCoat 200 for his first victory in just his second ARCA Menards Series start.
Heim and Gibbs, who rank first and second in championship points, respectively, had won all nine races in the series this year prior to the GMS Racing driver’s triumph on the 7/16-mile paved oval.
🏆☝️#WeAreGMS pic.twitter.com/vgfea89Zxy
— GMS Racing (@GMSRacingLLC) July 18, 2021
Superstar Racing Experience
Chase Elliott Wins Camping World SRX Season Finale
Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott held off three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart to take the victory in the Camping World SRX Series season finale Saturday night at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
Elliott crossed the stripe .439 of a second ahead of Stewart after battling his father, Bill, for much of the 77-lap race around the .596-mile oval in Music City.
“I had a ball. I got to race against two of my heroes,” Chase said. “I got to race against Dad there throughout the race and those are moments I will cherish forever. Just super thankful to be here.”
“Man, I tell you what, it was a lot of fun. I knew the way the tires were on these cars and the way Chase manages his stuff, he was going to be hard to beat. I know he didn’t have the best car, but he knows how to get it to the end.” Bragged proud father, Bill Elliott
Nashville photo dump! Tennessee was a great time. #CampingWorldSRX pic.twitter.com/GfGJ2J8IU9
— Camping World SRX Series (@SRXracing) July 19, 2021
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