Almirola capitalizes on risky strategy to defeat Zilisch at Bristol

Aric Almirola took advantage of a last-minute decision to stay on track when leader Connor Zilisch pitted for tires, and held onto the lead for the final 36 laps to win the Food City 300, the first NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The veteran Joe Gibbs Racing driver was running second when the caution flag came out. While Zilisch and other competitors pitted for tires, Almirola decided to stay out on old tires, a move that allowed him to take the lead and hold it until the checkered flag.

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Almirola defends the win on old tires against rivals with fresh rubber

The gamble paid off. Almirola withstood the charges of Sheldon Creed, who had taken tires and charged back to the second position on the final lap. The Haas Factory Team driver closed in but couldn't catch the leader.

For Creed, this second-place finish represents an unfortunate record: his 15th runner-up finish in the Xfinity Series, extending a streak that has kept him winless in the series.

Sam Mayer finishes third as Zilisch extends top-5 streak

Sam Mayer finished third for Haas Factory Team, followed by Carson Kvapil from JR Motorsports in fourth. Zilisch, who was looking to become the first driver to win five consecutive races in the series, finished fifth but extended his streak to 15 consecutive top-five finishes.

Zilisch maintains the championship lead with nine wins this season and a 32-point advantage over his JR Motorsports teammate, Justin Allgaier, who finished sixth and won his 11th stage of the campaign.

"It was a good day, just those end-of-race decisions are so tough because whatever you do, everybody else is going to do the opposite," Zilisch said. "We had a really good day with our WeatherTech Chevrolet, stretched our lead on the cutline and we'll move on to next week."

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Engine trouble leaves Smith last in the playoff standings

The race had a direct impact on the playoffs. Sammy Smith, who arrived sixth in the standings, suffered engine problems in his JR Motorsports Chevrolet and had to retire on lap 55. This DNF left him 12th and last among the playoff competitors, with a 24-point deficit to the transfer zone.

"Unfortunate situation," Smith said. "Really disappointed for the team. They worked so hard and to not really have a shot was frustrating. We'll just have to do our best these next two weeks in the playoffs and see."

The top seven spots went to playoff drivers, and 10 of the 12 championship competitors finished 14th or better.

Next stop: Kansas Speedway

The second race of the first playoff round will be held on September 27th at Kansas Speedway. Almirola arrives as the defending winner at that track, where he will look to add his second consecutive win of the season.

In the updated standings, Zilisch maintains the lead with 2,116 points, followed by Allgaier (2,084) and Mayer (2,066). The first two drivers outside the transfer zone are Jesse Love and Nick Sanchez, both just three points behind tenth-place Taylor Gray.

Complete Results - Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series

Bristol Motor Speedway - Bristol, Tennessee - September 12, 2025