Almirola wins Xfinity in Kansas; Allgaier wrecks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Aric Almirola crashed Victory Lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff opener Saturday at Kansas Speedway for his second victory of the season.

Almirola, the 40-year-old former Cup driver running a limited Xfinity schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing, has six career Xfinity victories, also winning at Martinsville in April. He won three Cup races.

Almirola, Cole Custer and Chandler Smith dueled over the final 40 laps, with Smith leading most of the way. Custer passed Smith for the top spot with 10 laps to go, and Almirola made the final pass with three laps left.

Custer was second, his first top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway. Smith was third, followed by Connor Zilisch and playoff driver Sheldon Creed.

Regular-season champion Justin Allgaier started the race atop the points standings. He left with his season in jeopardy after a wreck on Lap 70. He spun out exiting Turn 2, slid down the racetrack and hit the inside wall hard. Allgaier tried to return to the race, but a flat left front tire and loss of brakes ended his day in 36th place. It was the fourth straight race that Allgaier was involved in an accident.

“We’re not out of it by any stretch,” Allgaier said. “That’s why you work so hard in the regular season, to get all the bonus points you can. But I’ve got a long next two weeks.”