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NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Aric Almirola’s Food City 300-Winning Decision At Bristol Motor Speedway

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
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NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Aric Almirola’s Food City 300-Winning Decision At Bristol Motor Speedway

The Stage 3 call came in from Xfinity Series crew chief Tyler Allen to Aric Almirola: Whatever Connor Zilisch decides to do, pit or remain on the Bristol Motor Speedway track, follow the rookie’s lead.

Almirola, a 41-year-old ex-Cup Series regular, did his own thing.

“I decided to stay out when they said pit,” Almirola told CW Sports after claiming Friday night’s postseason-opening Food City 300. “I was tired of getting beat those guys (and) I thought my best chance was to stay out on old tires.”

He proved himself correct.

With 34 laps remaining following Carson Ware’s spin, most of the leaders, including Zilisch, who entered with four straight wins. Almirola, however, decided against his team’s call.

Almirola made good on the restart, despite a Turn 4 gaffe, and cruised to his ninth career trip to Victory Lane.

Sheldon Creed, who seeks his first circuit race title, placed second for the 15th time.

X (Twitter) users responded to Almirola’s victorious decision …

Going green with early playoff action. Justin Allgaier cleared Sam Mayer along the first turn. On the next lap, Zilisch, the regular-season champion, passed Mayer to move into P2 …

After making contact with both Leland Honeyman and Ryan Ellis, fighting for P28 on Lap 11, Kyle Sieg spun out along the frontstretch, bringing out the postseason’s first caution flag. Allgaier (7) and Zilisch (88) resumed their duel afterward …

The pit crew of the No. 8 pushes the machine into the garage …

Corey Day failed to sustain control after contact with Blaine Perkins on Lap 77. Stefan Parsons collided with Day’s spinning machine …

Allgaier takes advantage of Jesse Love sliding high along Turns 1 and 2 to claim the first stage …

Zilisch hung on on Lap 100, but fell to P3 …

Clutch move. After passing Mayer, Zilisch earned a Stage 2 win after pulling alongside Mayer along the backstretch and taking the lead along Turn 4 ….

Almirola pursued Zilisch for the lead position …

Creed improved his postseason standing, but was left wondering what he had to do to earn his first series win …

Zilisch placed P5 and earned a share of a series record …

Family man …

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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