2019 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200

2019 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200
Race details[1][2][3]
Race 24 of 33 in the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season
Date August 31, 2019 (2019-08-31)
Location Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Distance 147 laps, 200 mi (323 km)
Pole position
Driver Team Penske
Time 28.696
Most laps led
Driver Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing
Laps 70
Winner
No. 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN

The 2019 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on August 31, 2019, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested over 147 laps on the 1.366-mile (2.198 km) egg-shaped oval, it was the 24th race of the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Background

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Track

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Layout of Darlington Raceway, the track where the race was held.

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

Entry list

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The entry list included semi-retired driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who decided to participate in the race despite being in a plane accident in mid-August 2019.

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste Racing
Ford
0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet
01 Landon Cassill JD Motorsports Chevrolet
1 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet
2 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet
5 Matt Mills B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet
07 Ray Black Jr. SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet
7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet
08 Gray Gaulding (R) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JR Motorsports Chevrolet
9 Noah Gragson (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet
11 Justin Haley (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
12 Ryan Blaney (i) Team Penske Ford
13 Tommy Joe Martins MBM Motorsports Toyota
15 Stephen Leicht JD Motorsports Chevrolet
17 Joe Nemechek (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
18 Denny Hamlin (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
23 John Hunter Nemechek (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet
35 Joey Gase MBM Motorsports Toyota
36 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet
38 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet
39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet
52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet
61 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota
66 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota
74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet
78 Vinnie Miller B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet
86 Brandon Brown (R) Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet
89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet
90 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet
93 Camden Murphy RSS Racing Chevrolet
98 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste Racing
Ford
99 Stefan Parsons B. J. McLeod Motorsports Toyota

Practice

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First practice

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Cole Custer was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 29.340 seconds and a speed of 167.607 mph (269.737 km/h).[4]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste Racing
Ford 29.340 167.607
2 18 Denny Hamlin (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 29.381 167.373
3 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 29.423 167.135

Final practice

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Noah Gragson was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 29.575 seconds and a speed of 166.276 mph (267.595 km/h).[4]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 9 Noah Gragson (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 29.575 166.276
2 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 29.673 165.726
3 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 29.704 165.553

Qualifying

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Ryan Blaney scored the pole for the race with a time of 28.696 seconds and a speed of 171.369 mph (275.792 km/h).[5]

Qualifying results

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Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Time
1 12 Ryan Blaney (i) Team Penske Ford 28.696
2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.828
3 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste Racing
Ford 28.874
4 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 28.928
5 98 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste Racing
Ford 28.955
6 2 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.020
7 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 29.077
8 9 Noah Gragson (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 29.098
9 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 29.162
10 1 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet 29.178
11 01 Landon Cassill JD Motorsports Chevrolet 29.178
12 11 Justin Haley (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 29.241
13 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 29.441
14 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JR Motorsports Chevrolet 29.453
15 08 Gray Gaulding (R) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 29.636
16 23 John Hunter Nemechek (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet 29.641
17 90 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 29.726
18 07 Ray Black Jr. SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 29.799
19 86 Brandon Brown (R) Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 29.874
20 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 29.879
21 99 Stefan Parsons B. J. McLeod Motorsports Toyota 29.966
22 93 Camden Murphy RSS Racing Chevrolet 30.037
23 4 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet 30.113
24 15 Stephen Leicht JD Motorsports Chevrolet 30.121
25 17 Joe Nemechek (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 30.229
26 35 Joey Gase MBM Motorsports Toyota 30.248
27 66 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota 30.317
28 36 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet 30.405
29 0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 30.468
30 38 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet 30.823
31 61 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota 31.055
32 13 Tommy Joe Martins MBM Motorsports Toyota 31.109
33 52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 31.163
34 5 Matt Mills B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 31.419
35 74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 31.654
36 78 Vinnie Miller B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 32.130
37 18 Denny Hamlin (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39.102
38 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet 42.078

Race

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Summary

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Ryan Blaney started on pole and led early, holding off Tyler Reddick. After John Hunter Nemechek spun and caused a caution, Blaney pitted and gave the lead to Reddick, who won Stage 1. After Brandon Brown spun and hit the inside wall, Blaney and Justin Allgaier caught up to Reddick, with Blaney taking the Stage 2 victory. Allgaier and Cole Custer battled Reddick for top positions, while Denny Hamlin (who started at the rear of the field) caught up to the top 5.

Blaney left pit road with Custer and Hamlin behind him. Hamlin got by Custer and then slid past Blaney for the lead with 27 remaining. The final caution occurred with around 15 laps remaining, stacking up the field. Hamlin stayed in the lead while Custer took the second position. The restart happened with 10 laps to go. Hamlin took off and retained the lead, while Custer chased him closely.

On the final lap, Custer got right up to Hamlin's back and dove into turn 3. Custer was unable to make it stick, causing Hamlin to cross the finish line in first place and take the apparent victory. Although Hamlin was later disqualified, which gave Custer the race win despite him not leading a single lap.[6][7]

Stage Results

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Stage One Laps: 45

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 2 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 10
2 12 Ryan Blaney (i) Team Penske Ford 0
3 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 98 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste
Ford 7
5 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 6
6 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste
Ford 5
7 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JR Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 11 Justin Haley (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 2
10 01 Landon Cassill JD Motorsports Chevrolet 1

Stage Two Laps: 45

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 12 Ryan Blaney (i) Team Penske Ford 0
2 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 2 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 8
4 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste
Ford 7
5 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JR Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 98 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste
Ford 4
8 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 2
10 9 Noah Gragson (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1

Final Stage Results

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Stage Three Laps: 57

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 3 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste
Ford 147 52
2 6 2 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 147 53
3 1 12 Ryan Blaney (i) Team Penske Ford 147 0
4 2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 147 47
5 14 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JR Motorsports Chevrolet 147 41
6 5 98 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing with
Biagi-DenBeste
Ford 147 42
7 7 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 147 36
8 8 9 Noah Gragson (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 147 30
9 4 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 147 43
10 9 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 147 29
11 12 11 Justin Haley (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 147 28
12 20 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 147 25
13 10 1 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet 147 24
14 13 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 147 23
15 15 08 Gray Gaulding SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 147 22
16 18 07 Ray Black Jr. SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 147 21
17 17 90 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 147 20
18 11 01 Landon Cassill JD Motorsports Chevrolet 147 20
19 23 4 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet 147 18
20 22 93 Camden Murphy RSS Racing Chevrolet 146 17
21 16 23 John Hunter Nemechek (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet 146 16
22 21 99 Stefan Parsons B. J. McLeod Motorsports Toyota 146 15
23 27 66 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota 146 14
24 28 36 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet 144 13
25 26 35 Joey Gase MBM Motorsports Toyota 144 12
26 24 15 Stephen Leicht JD Motorsports Chevrolet 144 11
27 33 52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 144 10
28 36 78 Vinnie Miller B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 143 9
29 29 0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 143 8
30 33 61 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota 133 7
31 34 5 Matt Mills B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 128 6
32 35 74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 114 5
33 19 86 Brandon Brown (R) Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 85 4
34 25 17 Joe Nemechek (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 72 0
35 32 13 Tommy Joe Martins MBM Motorsports Toyota 61 2
36 30 38 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet 34 1
37 38 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet 27 1
38 37 18 Denny Hamlin (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 147 0

After the race

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Denny Hamlin was disqualified and stripped of his race win when his car failed a pair of height requirements, being deemed too low in the left front and too high in the right rear, ultimately giving the race win to runner-up Cole Custer.[8] This was the first disqualification of an Xfinity Series race winner and the fourth overall disqualification in the Xfinity Series this season since the 2019 rules were established.

References

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  1. ^ "2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Schedule". Official Site Of NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "Darlington Raceway". August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  3. ^ Kristl, Mark (August 26, 2019). "Entry List: 2019 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200". Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Nolen, Bryan (August 30, 2019). "Cole Custer, Noah Gragson Lead Xfinity Practice Sessions at Darlington". Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  5. ^ Gillispie, Zach (August 31, 2019). "Ryan Blaney Nabs Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 Pole". Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  6. ^ Tywalk, Nick (September 1, 2019). "Xfinity Breakdown: Denny Hamlin Goes Back to Front to Back". Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  7. ^ Cheek, Adam (August 31, 2019). "Bringing Back Buckshot: Denny Hamlin Disqualified, Cole Custer Wins at Darlington". Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  8. ^ Albert, Zack (August 31, 2019). "No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota fails post-race inspection in Xfinity". Retrieved August 31, 2019.
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2019 CTECH Manufacturing 180
NASCAR Xfinity Series
2019 season
Next race:
2019 Indiana 250