Gragson snaps winless plug with Darlington NXS victory
It used to be a gigantic week for Gragson already, as earlier in the week his JR Motorsports team said he would be returning in the 2022 season.
Then, after winning Stage 2 early in Saturday’s accelerate at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, he locked up a attach in the sequence playoffs by parts.
The victory used to be icing on the extinguish – cementing his playoff attach and ending a 49-accelerate winless plug relationship support to June 2020.
The accelerate used to be sent into a two-lap past phenomenal time when a caution used to be displayed for debris on the backstretch. Gragson and reigning Xfinity champion Austin Cindric lined up on the front row on the restart but Harrison Burton fleet powered into second.
Twice, Burton tried to win spherical Gragson in Turns 3 and 4 but to no avail, handing Gragson his third career sequence resolve.
After a wild put up-accelerate burnout, Gragson and his No. 9 team climbed the fence on the frontstretch to the cry of the followers.
“It’s been device too long however the predominant thing I desire to tell is thanks to all you badass accelerate followers. You’re awesome, child,” Gragson said. “I cherish the enhance, not perfect for myself but for your complete Xfinity sequence.
“I loathe (Denny Hamlin), that something took space to him on pit toll road. It used to be quite enjoyable racing there. We made correct changes on the pit stops and it’s been device too long. Loads frustration this year and things haven’t long gone our device.
“We’re getting some momentum when we now bear got to. I perfect can’t thank all people enough on this No. 9 team and all individuals who makes this happen. Darlington, man. It’s a dream reach actual.”
Cindric ended up third, Justin Haley used to be fourth and Jeb Burton rounded out the extinguish-five.
Finishing the extinguish-10 were Justin Allgaier, Tyler Reddick, Jeremy Clements, Myatt Snider and Alex Labbe.
Stage 3
Following the atomize between Stages 2 and 3, the lead-lap automobile all pit with Gragson the predominant off pit toll road.
On the restart on Lap 98, Gragson used to be followed by Hamlin, A.J. Allmendinger, Cindric and Daniel Hemric.
Allmendinger powered to the lead after the restart as Gragson dropped to Third.
On Lap 103, Hamlin bought spherical Allmendinger to reclaim the lead.
Tommy Joe Martins fell off tempo on Lap 109 with an obvious engine scenario and Riley Herbst drove straight into the support of him, lifting the rear wheels of the No. 44 off the ground.
The total lead-lap autos elected to pit for original tires and fuel to function it to the end of the accelerate. Hamlin used to be the predominant off pit toll road. Timmy Hill stayed out and inherited the lead.
On the restart on Lap 116, Hill used to be followed by Hamlin, Gragson, Allmendinger, Harrison Burton and Hemric.
Hamlin straight reclaimed the lead on the restart.
On Lap 126, Gragson bought spherical Allmendinger and moved into the runner-up attach on the support of chief Hamlin.
With 10 laps final, Hamlin maintained a pair of 1-second lead over Gragson.
Brandon Jones spun on Lap 138 to bring out a caution and the lead-lap autos pit for tires. Hamlin used to be first off pit toll road with Gragson actual on the support of him.
Hamlin used to be penalized for having equipment over the wall too soon and had to restart from the rear of the field.
On the restart on Lap 143, Hemric – among individuals who stayed out – led the manner, followed by Landon Cassill, Gragson, Harrison Burton and Allmendinger.
Gragson fleet powered spherical Hemric to retake the lead on the restart.
A caution for debris on the backstretch sent the accelerate into a two-lap past phenomenal time. Gragson led on the start followed by Cindric, Harrison Burton, Haley and Allgaier.
Stage 2
No matter a bustle-in with a lapped automobile with one lap final, Gragson held on to tell the Stage 2 resolve, his third stage victory of the 2021 season.
Hamlin rallied support to second, Cindric used to be third, Allgaier fourth and Hemric rounded out the extinguish-five.
Following the atomize between Stages 1 and 2, the lead-lap autos all pit with Haley the predominant off pit toll road. All the device by his pit extinguish, Hemric made contact with the automobile of David Starr, inflicting hurt to each.
On the restart on Lap 54, Haley used to be followed by Allmendinger, Gragson, Hemric and Jones. Hamlin lined up 12th.
Allmendinger went to the outside of Haley exiting Flip 4 to capture the lead after the restart.
Jones spun off Flip 2 after contact with Hemric on Lap 59 and slammed into the interior wall to bring out a caution.
The accelerate returned to inexperienced on Lap 65 with Allmendinger out front followed by Haley, Gragson, Hemric and Harrison Burton.
Gragson bought spherical Allmendinger off Flip 2 on Lap 7 to reclaim the lead.
With 10 laps to head in the stage, Gragson held a pair of 1-second lead over Allmendinger with Cindric in third.
Stage 1
Hemric took the Stage 1 victory when chief Hamlin spun off Flip 4 on the final lap while racing side-by-side with a lapped automobile.
Gragson used to be second, Allmendinger third, Hamlin used to be credited with fourth and Haley rounded out the extinguish-five.
Hemric started on the pole and led the predominant 10 laps till Allgaier went interior of him coming into Flip 3 on Lap 11 to capture the lead.
On Lap 12, Carson Ware spun off Flip 4 and down the frontstretch to bring out a caution. Hemric pit all over the caution to envision on a probable engine scenario. The accelerate resumed on Lap 16 with Allgaier out front.
NASCAR displayed a competition caution on Lap 21 to permit groups to envision tire do on. The accelerate returned to inexperienced on Lap 26 with Allgaier out front, followed by Gragson and Hamlin.
With 15 laps final in the predominant stage, Allgaier held a tiny lead over Gragson with Hamlin actual on the support of in third.
On Lap 31, Gragson bought spherical Allgaier to take the lead for the predominant time in the accelerate.
Hamlin went to the interior of Gragson as the two raced down the frontstretch and came out the chief on Lap 34.
On Lap 40, Hemric – who had pit for tires below the old caution – had worked his device support up to second.
Ty Dillon modified Brett Moffit in Our Motorsports’ No. 2 Chevrolet resulting from a medical scenario and had to start the accelerate from the rear of the field. Dillon performed 13th.