NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Aric Almirola proved his spring effort at Martinsville Speedway was no fluke. The driver of the No. 20 Toyota led 150 of 250 laps en route to earning Saturday’s National Debt Relief 250 title.
“We had a good car here in the spring, and we made a few changes because I wasn’t totally happy with it,” Almirola told NBC Sports. “We showed up (Saturday) and we were awful. They (the crew members) went to work last night and came up with a lot of changes to make to the car. It was so hooked up today, it was doing everything I wanted it to.
“This is such a special place. This is by far my favorite racetrack.”
With top-five finishes, Cole Custer, who had an animated Round of 8 finale, and Justin Allgaier advanced to next weekend’s Championship 4 race. They will compete for the circuit title against Austin Hill and AJ Allmendinger at Phoenix Raceway.
With Almirola maintaining the lead off a series of restarts, drama unfolded between Cole Custer and Chandler Smith, both of whom were eliminated. Smith ended up slapping Custer after exchanging words along pit road.
X (Twitter) users responded to Saturday’s green flag, the second to last race of the season …
One half of the #Championship4 is yet to be decided … but not for long.
The #NDR250 is underway at @MartinsvilleSwy on @TheCW_Sports! pic.twitter.com/YZZqvMq5ho
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Smith told CW Sports that Almirola’s machine was “strong all day.” Like last spring when he led 148 laps …
Smoked 'em. 💨 pic.twitter.com/S12hDqZlZx
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
After climbing out of their machines, Smith approached Custer, which ignited a post-race mele …
A heated exchange at @MartinsvilleSwy. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/fYNaHDeIRh
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Custer said his post-race thoughts on Smith: “What comes around, goes around” …
Hear from @ColeCuster following his altercation with @CSmith_Racing. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/fr8mcVOv6a
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Smith responded …
.@CSmith_Racing tells his side of the story. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/izuYQzYPHd
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Flashback to 2007 …
Remember this battle between Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon?
The Hendrick teammates put on a show at Martinsville back in 2007. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/XhMQVwF2Gj
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 1, 2024
With fewer than 100 laps to go, Smith appeared to be out of the playoffs, 30 points out of the playoff chase. He needed to make something happen …
The pressure is building for the #NASCARPlayoffs drivers with less than 100 laps to go.
As they run, @CSmith_Racing (P4) is currently the first driver out, -30 to the elimination line. pic.twitter.com/03w4I8ffAl
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
With Almirola controlling the point, playoff driver Sam Mayer needed to catch up and create a win. The No. 1 Chevrolet smoked as the field restarted on Lap 227. Custer pushed Smith out of their Turn 1 groove, further agitating their feud, and both fell back. They later had words …
A stack-up on the restart shakes things up at the front of the field! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/MiWEV0XTyf
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
The No. 1 machine soon went behind the wall and with it, the team’s playoff chances …
The No. 1 heads behind the wall with damage from the Lap 228 incident. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Fn9qowBchv
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Seven laps earlier, Smith bumped Custer out of the way to secure second place. Behind them, Brandon Jones and Sheldon Creed created a caution period …
A bump-and-run moves @CSmith_Racing into second as the yellow comes out for @BrandonJonesRac.
Less than 30 to go at @MartinsvilleSwy! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Bi5iyRudHf
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Running P29, Mason Maggio spun out along Turn 2 on Lap 103 after making contact with Preston Pardus’ machine …
The No. 53 spins in front of the leaders, but they avoid contact! pic.twitter.com/vnKGi1RypW
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Almirola, who claimed both stages, showed off his machine’s muscle, winning Stage 1 after taking the outside lane and passing Custer by inches …
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Parker Retzlaff suffered a poor restart and Mayer’s bump delivered the pole-sitter into the Turn 1 wall on Lap 54 …
Trouble on the restart!
The No. 31 suffers heavy damage. pic.twitter.com/wnbWTmGQsm
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
Allmendinger’s competitive day ended early as his No. 16 Chevrolet lost a tire along Turn 3 on Lap 13 …
There's early trouble for @AJDinger!
The No. 16 gets into the wall. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4Mj1UALsSj
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
The circuit’s Championship 4 will go for the title next weekend in the desert …
Four drivers. One goal: First to the finish line at @phoenixraceway. #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/zDy8sPjjWU
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 2, 2024
