2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race
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| Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 33 of 33 of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | November 9, 2024 | ||
| Official name | 26th Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race | ||
| Location | Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1 miles (1.6 km) | ||
| Distance | 213 laps, 213 mi (342 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 200 laps, 200 mi (320 km) | ||
| Average speed | 88.545 mph (142.499 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||
| Time | 26.832 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | |
| Laps | 167 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | The CW (produced by NBC Sports) | ||
| Announcers | Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte. | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | MRN | ||
The 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race was the 33rd and final stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, the Championship 4 race, and the 26th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, a 1 mile (1.6 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 200 laps, but was increased to 213 laps due to numerous overtime restarts. In an action-packed race, Riley Herbst, driving for Stewart–Haas Racing, would make a last lap pass on Justin Allgaier for the lead to earn his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, his second of the season, and the final win for Tony Stewart as a partner in Stewart-Haas Racing, which after dissolving of the partnership with Gene Haas became Haas Factory Team.[9] Herbst was also the class of the field, winning both stages and leading a race-high 167 laps. To fill out the podium, Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, and Aric Almirola, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Despite mid race penalties and a second place finish, Allgaier claimed the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, finishing six positions ahead of the rest of the final four drivers.[10] This is Allgaier's first championship in the series, after previously competing in the final four six different times.[11]
Background
Phoenix Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.
Phoenix Raceway is home to two annual NASCAR race weekends, one of 13 facilities on the NASCAR schedule to host more than one race weekend a year. The track is both the first and last stop in the western United States, as well as the fourth and the last track on the schedule.
Championship drivers
- A. J. Allmendinger advanced after winning at Las Vegas.[12]
- Austin Hill advanced after winning at Homestead–Miami.[13]
- Justin Allgaier advanced by virtue of points.[14]
- Cole Custer advanced by virtue of points.[14]
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
- (CC) denotes championship contender.
- (OP) denotes owner's playoff car.
Practice
The first and only practice session was held on Friday, November 8, at 3:05 PM MST, and would last for 50 minutes.[15] Jesse Love, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.587, and a speed of 130.496 mph (210.013 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Jesse Love | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.587 | 130.496 |
| 2 | 7 | Justin Allgaier (CC) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.700 | 129.964 |
| 3 | 88 | Connor Zilisch | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.706 | 129.936 |
| Full practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Saturday, November 9, at 2:00 PM MST.[15] Since Phoenix Raceway is a mile oval, the qualifying system used was a single-car, one-lap system with only one round. Drivers will be on track by themselves and will have one lap to post a qualifying time, and whoever sets the fastest time won the pole.[16]
William Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 26.832, and a speed of 134.168 mph (215.922 km/h).[17]
No drivers would fail to qualify.
