Doordash 250: Aric Almirola wins Xfinity debut at Sonoma

Six years removed from his last career Xfinity win, Aric Almirola gets RSS Racing their first Xfinity series win in the series’ debut at Sonoma Raceway.

Going into the race it wasn’t all Almirola. Kyle Larson had planted his #17 Hendrick Chevy on pole by the margin of almost a second over second place Justin Allgaier. 

 At the fall of the green flag Larson jumped in front of Allgaier and held his ground at the first place spot until the end of the first stage. AJ Allmendinger took the second place spot from Allgaier and Aric Almirola in the #28 claimed 3rd as his own. 

Stage One Results:

1. #17
2. #10
3. #28
4. #7
5. #19
6. #11
7. #1
8. #48
9. # 2
10.  #18

Almost immediately after the end of the first stage, the first caution of the day was thrown for the #8 of Josh Berry, who’s car was stopped in the esses section of the racetrack. 

The field restarted with the #21 of Austin Hill and the #20 of Nemechek lining up on the front row. Hill took the lead going into turn 3. Kyle Larson, who restarted 6th, worked his way up to 2nd by the end of lap 27. Going into turn 8 on the next lap, the Hendrick driver would maneuver his #17 past the Childress driver to the front of the field. 

Larson would cruise away to sweep the stages and win stage 2.

Stage 2 Results:

1. #17
2. #10
3. #19
4. #7
5. #21
6. #28
7. #20
8. #98
9. #48
10.  #1

The second caution of the day would fly on lap 62 for the #45 of Jeffrey Earnhardt, who got loose coming out of turn 10 and hit the barriers. 

The #29 of Alex Labbe and the #07 of Daniel Suarez restarted on the front row after staying out under caution. Suarez got the jump on Labbe but was handed a pass-through penalty for a restart violation. Almirola assumed the race lead in turn 3. 

With 10 to go the leader was Almirola with Larson close behind him. With 8 to go, Larson was gaining on Almirola in turn 11 but hit the tire bundles that lined the inside of the course, causing him to swing way wide and hand second place over to Allmendinger in the #10. 

Almirola would run away with the race win for the first time since 2017. This win will undoubtably put some extra pep in the step of the SHR driver ahead of today’s cup race.

After a hard fought battle, Allmendinger would take 2nd place and Larson would get 3rd when the checkered flag fell. 

Ty Gibbs finished in 4th and the first Xfinity regular to finish was Parker Kligerman who took 5th. 

Featured Image Credits: Aric Almirola on Twitter