DARLINGTON, S.C. — After diligently working by a 98-race winless streak over the past three NASCAR Xfinity Sequence seasons, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones reminded his rivals — and his followers — Saturday that he’s nonetheless a race winner and a title contender.
The popular 28-year-old Atlanta native took the lead on a re-start with 12 laps remaining in Saturday’s Sports activities Clips Haircuts VFW Assist A Hero 200 on the historic Darlington Raceway – beating 2020 NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Chase Elliott to the end line by a wholesome 1.105 seconds to hoist his first trophy since April, 2022 — a span of 98 races.
The 1.366-mile Darlington monitor could also be nicknamed Too Powerful To Tame, but it surely definitely introduced a tamer race than the sequence produced per week in the past on the sometimes wild and wooly Martinsville half-miler.
This weekend featured 14 lead adjustments amongst 9 drivers – not one of the adjustments up entrance a results of overly aggressive driving.
As a substitute, technique, a quick automotive and unwavering perception in himself and his staff made the distinction for Jones.
“It’s good for my confidence, proper, but it surely’s additionally to show to the haters and those that mentioned I used to be incapable of doing it, unsuitable once more,’’ mentioned Jones, whose No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota led 24 of the races 137 laps.
“This place is freaking superior man, I really like coming to Darlington, ‘’ he added, “Second win and simply large momentum. I knew we had been on a excessive simply didn’t know when it was going to occur.’’
Justin Allgaier, who led probably the most laps (56) on the afternoon and received Stage 2, completed third within the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, adopted by teammates Ross Chastain and rookie Carson Kvapil.
The staff, co-owned by NASCAR Corridor of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, had all 5 of its Chevys within the prime 10 with rookie Connor Zilisch ending sixth and Sammy Smith ninth.
Rookies punctuated the highest 10 regardless of it being the primary time most of them had ever raced on the famously difficult venue. Along with Kvapil and Zilisch, rookies Christian Eckes and Nick Sanchez claimed seventh and eighth place with Smith and veteran Sheldon Creed rounding out the highest 10.
Harrison Burton’s AM Racing staff received the opening stage and JGR’s Taylor Grey was credited with the Xfinity Quickest Lap (160.706 mph) of the day.
“I’m pleased with Brandon Jones, I understand how onerous the child has labored, he’s executed an excellent job and I’m completely happy to see him get to victory lane’’ mentioned the reigning sequence champion Allgaier, who has now tied NASCAR Corridor-of-Famer Mark Martin with nine-consecutive prime 10s in Xfinity Sequence races at Darlington.
It’s been that sort of yr for Allgaier. He’s completed prime 10 in six of the final seven races of 2025, together with back-to-back victories at Las Vegas and Homestead-Miami in March and a runner-up end at Atlanta in February.
“Disenchanted,’’ Allgaier conceded of his Darlington day, nevertheless, noting his Chevy’s pace was good and the staff overcame an early race pit highway miscue.
“We had been in a position to get the monitor place again, at the least for probably the most half. However clear air was too necessary as we speak. Once we had been up entrance, we had it. However I actually wanted the lengthy runs and simply didn’t have that on the finish of the race as we speak. Pleased with everyone on our BRANDT Chemical Chevrolet. We’re on a heckuva run with prime fives proper now.’’
The sequence’ in style Sprint 4 Money incentive program returns with subsequent week’s SciApps 300 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
The best finisher amongst Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, Haas Manufacturing unit Workforce’s Creed, Allgaier and Alpha Prime Racing’s Brennan Poole will win the Sprint 4 Money $100,000 bonus test from Xfinity, having incomes eligibility based mostly on their leads to the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway race final week.
Subsequent week marks the primary spring race at Bristol since 2019. Christopher Bell was the race winner.
