From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) took on Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Below is a recap of the events.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
- In only his third career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) start, Justin Haley (NASCAR Xfinity Series regular) was deemed the surprise winner in Sunday’s rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. The 20-year-old became the second youngest Cup Series winner in Daytona International Speedway history.
- Haley, driving for a newly-formed single-car team for 2019 (Spire Motorsports), stayed on track while others pitted during a caution period. Moments before going back to green-flag racing, lightning and rain forced a red flag condition, taking the cars off the track. The inclement weather persisted, and the race was never restarted.
- Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Jimmie Johnson finished second and third, respectively, with Ty Dillon fourth and Ryan Newman fifth.
- The rest of the top 10 included Corey LaJoie, Aric Almirola (Talladega Superspeedway’s defending 1000Bulbs.com 500 winner), Matt DiBenedetto, Matt Tifft and Kurt Busch.
- Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott have clinched spots in the MENCS Playoffs with wins this season.
- Talladega Superspeedway’s second MENCS race of 2019 is set for Sunday, Oct. 13, with the running of the 1000Bulbs.com 500, and will be the second race in the Round of 12 of the playoffs.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
- Florida native Ross Chastain led a 1-2 finish for Kaulig Racing in Friday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) event at Daytona, taking home his first series victory of the season and second of his career.
- Teammate and runner-up Justin Haley crossed the line .206 seconds behind Chastain.
- In his first NASCAR national series start since last year, Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger initially finished third, but was disqualified after his car failed a post-race engine inspection. He wound up 38th.
- Christopher Bell, Austin Cindric and Stephen Leicht rounded out the top five.
- With wins this season, Bell, Cole Custer, Michael Annett and Tyler Reddick have secured spots in the NXS Playoffs. Chastain is contending for the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series championship.