Winners: Bubba Wallace (Cup); ConnorZilisch (Xfinity); Layne Riggs (Trucks) plus Brent Crews (ARCA)
 |
| Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics |
NASCAR Cup
Bubba Wallace Holds On in Double Overtime
Mother Nature wasn’t going to deprive Bubba Wallace of the most important win of his career, not on this Sunday afternoon.
Unsure of the amount of fuel left in his No. 23 Toyota, Wallace survived a rain shower and two overtime restarts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to win the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG, punching his ticket to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Wallace was comfortably ahead of runner-up Kyle Larson with four laps left in regulation, but the sudden shower forced NASCAR to call the fifth caution of the afternoon.
The rain was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, and after a short stoppage to dry the track, Wallace pulled ahead of Larson on the first overtime restart. A five-car accident on the backstretch, however, sent the race to a second extra period.
Wallace stayed on track for the next restart — hoping his fuel would last — and again pulled away from Larson and this time took the white flag without incident. After one more circuit, he crossed the finish line 0.222 seconds ahead of Larson to claim the trophy in the crown-jewel event.
The third victory of Wallace’s career ended a 100-race dry spell dating to Sept. 11, 2022 at Kansas Speedway. He led 30 laps, including the last 26, as the race went eight circuits beyond the scheduled 160.
“Oh, my gosh, I’m just so proud of this team,” Wallace said. “That adrenaline rush is crazy, ’cause I’m coming off that right now — and I’m worn out.”
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “To win here at the Brickyard, knowing how big this race is, knowing all the noise that’s going on in the background, to set that all aside is a testament to these people here on this 23 team. It’s been getting old right around the cut line (for the playoffs).”
Kyle Larson finished second; Denny Hamlin placed third; Ryan Preece came in fourth and Brad Keselowski completed the top five.
Woke up thinking about yesterday's #Brickyard400 presented by @PPG finish 😌
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) July 28, 2025
What a performance by @BubbaWallace on that final overtime restart. 👏 pic.twitter.com/HtqUKTV3of
Pole: Chase Briscoe
Click Here for Race Results
Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET for the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway.
NASCAR Xfinity
Three in a Row: Connor Zilisch Stays Hot
As contrary as it might seem, there was ambivalence in Connor Zilisch’s victory in Saturday’s Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Yes, Zilisch won his third straight NASCAR Xfinity Series race and added to his inarguable credentials as a budding superstar. What’s more, Zilisch delivered victory No. 100 to JR Motorsports, the organization founded by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelly Earnhardt Miller.
But Zilisch’s victory came at the expense of teammate Justin Allgaier, who made a heroic move on the outside to retake the lead from Kyle Larson on Lap 74 and had the win in his sights until the following restart on Lap 87.
That’s when Larson’s No. 17 Chevrolet broke loose in Turn 1 and turned Allgaier’s Chevrolet into the outside wall and out of the race.
That left Zilisch and Taylor Gray to battle for the lead after a restart with four laps left. With a push from the Ford of Sam Mayer, Zilisch took control on Lap 99 of 100 and held on to win by 0.339 seconds over Mayer as Gray slipped to third.
“I see some bricks that look kissable, and I’m going to kiss them,” Zilisch said, referencing an Indianapolis tradition started by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett. “This is awesome. One hundred wins for JRM. Congrats to Dale, Kelley, L.W. (Miller), everybody who’s raced for JRM, everybody who works at JRM.”
“I’m the smallest part of this team, and I’m so glad to be a part of it.”
“I hate it for Justin, because he’s been the cornerstone of the company for so many years,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said of the reigning series champion. “He’s been dependable, reliable, great with our partners and he wants to do these things for us.”
Sam Mayer finished second; Taylor Gray placed third; Kyle Larson came in fourth and Ryan Sieg completed the top five.
What a moment between @DaleJr and @ConnorZilisch. 🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/FkGgjJQxNh
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 27, 2025
Pole: Sam Mayer
Click Here for Race Results
Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET for the ‘HyVee Perks 250’ at Iowa Speedway.
NASCAR Trucks
Layne Riggs Leads 160 Laps, Wins at IRP
The post-race celebration said it all.
Layne Riggs planted the nose of his No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford firmly against the outside of the pit row wall and lit up his tires as members of his team stood on the barrier and pumped their fists repeatedly.
The elation was well-deserved after Riggs scored his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Friday night’s TSport 200.
With his second victory of the season and a sweep of the first two stages, Riggs cut into the dominating lead of Corey Heim with two races left in the regular season.
Nevertheless, Heim, who ran third in a balky No. 11 Toyota, clinched the regular-season title.
“I’ll tell you, this truck was badass, man,” Riggs said after climbing from the F-150 on pit road. “It was so great. I was just out front saving my tires at the end. Then I was just waiting for a late-race caution (which never came), trying to run the bottom and trying to keep the least amount of distance to keep the distance off my tires.
“It’s so great to get (sponsor) Clew Nicotine Pouches in Victory Lane. That’s only their second race with us, and we’re super excited to have them. That was a pretty cool celebration.”
Corey Day finished second; Corey Heim placed third; Grant Enfinger came in fourth and Ty Majeski completed the top five.
A big team win means a big team celebration. pic.twitter.com/LOYONzao0F
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) July 26, 2025
Pole: Corey Heim
Click Here for Race Results
Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, August 8, 2025 at 5:00 pm ET for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at Watkins Glen at Watkins Glen International.
ARCA
Brent Crews rebounds at Lucas Oil IRP
Brent Crews helped Joe Gibbs Racing check another box in the ARCA Menards Series Friday evening at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Gibbs’ ARCA Menards Series program had yet to win at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park prior to the LiUNA! 150 presented by Dutch Boy. Excellent second half adjustments from crew chief Matt Ross enabled Crews to overtake Brenden Queen and pull away for his second ARCA Menards Series national win of the year and third overall.
Crews has now won half of the ARCA Menards Series events he has entered in 2025. He knew adjustments would be needed to eclipse Queen’s stellar pace, but commended Ross for perfecting his car during the closing 75 laps.
“I was exhausted,” Crews said. “This JGR group did an absolutely fabulous job at the break there. [Queen] was really good in the first half and I was giving everything I had trying to hang with him. I knew Matt [Ross] and the crew had something up their sleeve to get me that extra little bit at the halfway break and that’s exactly what he did.”
Lawless Alan finished second; Brenden Queen placed third; Isabella Robusto came in fourth and Lavar Scott completed the top five.
Crewsing! @BrentCrews11 wins at @RaceIRP! pic.twitter.com/4yFHRBsPuS
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) July 25, 2025
Pole: Brenden Queen
Click Here for Race Results
Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, August 1, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET for the ‘Atlas 150’ at Iowa Speedway.
No comments:
Post a Comment