2024 Dude Wipes 250
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| Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 7 of 33 of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | April 6, 2024 | ||
| Official name | 17th Annual Dude Wipes 250 | ||
| Location | Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 0.526 miles (0.847 km) | ||
| Distance | 251 laps, 132 mi (212 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 250 laps, 131 mi (211 km) | ||
| Average speed | 61.984 mph (99.754 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | JR Motorsports | ||
| Time | 19.694 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Aric Almirola | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Laps | 148 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 20 | Aric Almirola | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FS1 | ||
| Announcers | Adam Alexander, Austin Cindric, and Ryan Blaney | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | MRN | ||
The 2024 Dude Wipes 250 was the 7th stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent asphalt paperclip-shaped short track. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 250 laps, but was increased to 251 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish. In a wild and action packed race that saw numerous spins and wrecks, Aric Almirola, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would survive a chaotic overtime restart, and won the race after a multi-car incident occurred on the final lap with him in the lead. This was Almirola's fifth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season. Almirola was the most consistent driver of the race, winning the first stage and leading a race-high 148 laps.[9] To fill out the podium, Sam Mayer, driving for JR Motorsports, and Chandler Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
This was also the first race of the Dash 4 Cash. Drivers eligible for the Dash 4 Cash were Chandler Smith, Aric Almirola, Jesse Love, and Parker Kligerman, since they were the highest finishing Xfinity regulars following the race at Richmond.[10] Almirola would claim the bonus cash after winning the race.[11]
Background
Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track on the NASCAR circuit since its beginning in 1948.
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Practice
Practice was held on Friday, April 5, at 5:05 PM EST.[12] Since Martinsville Speedway is a short track, drivers will be split into two groups, Group A and B, with both sessions being 15 minutes long. A. J. Allmendinger, driving for Kaulig Racing, was the fastest driver between both groups, with a lap of 20.172, and a speed of 93.873 mph (151.074 km/h).[13]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 20.172 | 93.873 |
| 2 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 20.294 | 93.308 |
| 3 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.306 | 93.252 |
| Full practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, April 5, at 5:40 PM EST.[12] Since Martinsville Speedway is a short track, the qualifying system used is a single-car, two-lap system with only one round. Drivers will be on track by themselves and will have two laps to post a qualifying time. Whoever sets the fastest time in that round will win the pole.[14]
Brandon Jones, driving for JR Motorsports, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 19.694, and a speed of 96.151 mph (154.740 km/h).[15]
Ryan Vargas was the only driver who failed to qualify.
