Aric Almirola achieved a remarkable victory at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, as the battle to claim a berth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs Championship 4 heated up.
This win marked Almirola’s seventh career victory in the Xfinity Series and his second win of the season, showcasing his prowess on the track despite competing part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing.
The race which unfolded over 250 laps at the historic Martinsville Speedway track was pivotal not only for the 40-year old Florida native but also for several other drivers contending for a spot in the Xfinity Series playoffs Championship 4, leading to an intense and dramatic atmosphere throughout the event.
From the outset, Aric Almirola demonstrated his dominance by winning both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the race. His performance was characterized by strategic driving and the ability to maintain control over his No. 20 Toyota, which proved crucial as he navigated through a field of competitive drivers.
The race itself was a tightly contested affair, with Almirola holding off fierce challenges from several drivers, notably Sammy Smith and Chandler Smith. The final laps were particularly thrilling as both Smiths pushed hard to close the gap on Almirola, creating a nail-biting finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Sammy Smith finished in second place, closely trailing the winner by just 0.587 seconds at the finish line, while Chandler Smith secured third, showcasing a strong performance that ultimately fell short of advancing into the championship contention.
“We had an amazing car here in the spring, and we made a few tweaks to it,” said Almirola. “I wasn’t totally happy with it, honestly, in the spring. And we showed up [Friday] and we were awful. I was like ‘Oh, no, what did we do?’
“They went to work last night and came up with a lot of changes to make to the car, and it was so hooked up today. It would just do everything I wanted it to. This is such a special place. This is by far my favorite race track. I’m just so thankful.”
Almirola’s win at Martinsville Speedway was crucial in determining the Championship 4 field for the upcoming title race. With Las Vegas playoffs winner AJ Allmendinger and Austin Hill having already secured their spots in the playoffs, two additional slots were available for six contenders, making this race a pivotal moment in the season.
Ultimately, Cole Custer and Justin Allgaier secured their places by finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. This outcome meant that both Custer and Allgaier would join Almirola, Hill, and Allmendinger in the Xfinity Series playoffs Championship 4 showdown at Phoenix.
However, the race was not without its controversies as a heated exchange happened between Chandler Smith and Cole Custer after the checkered flag. Frustrated with Custer’s aggressive driving during the final laps—particularly when Custer blocked Smith’s attempts to overtake—Chandler confronted Custer on pit road.
The confrontation escalated quickly, resulting in Chandler throwing a punch at Custer, highlighting the heightened emotions and rivalries that often characterize NASCAR events.
Chandler Smith expressed his dissatisfaction with Cole Custer’s racing style during an interview following the race. He noted that he had been patient throughout their battle but felt that Custer had not given him enough space when it mattered most.
“I was planning to do a lot more than that, to be completely frank with you,” Smith said. “I was extremely [expletive] off.
“I gave him five laps before that caution came out (for Brandon Jones’ spin on lap 220). I beat his bumper off and never shipped him or anything. The laps were winding down, and I was in a must-win.
“The No. 20 (Almirola) started to drive away—he was really good all day—I can’t waste any more time with him. I finally had a good enough run and pushed him up the race track and went on our way.
“But I gave him a chance for five laps before that. I think he was the first guy all day that chose the outside lane from third place (for the lap 227 restart). That was very interesting, and he didn’t even give me a chance to make the corner when we got to Turn 1.”
Custer’s aggressive tactics were not limited to his encounter with Chandler Smith; earlier in the race, he had also collided with AJ Allmendinger just 12 laps in. As Custer attempted to pass Allmendinger, he nudged him out of line, causing Allmendinger to lose control and crash.
This incident further fueled tensions within the paddock as Allmendinger later remarked curtly about looking forward to Xfinity Series playoffs Championship 4 showdown at Phoenix, suggesting that unresolved issues from Martinsville might carry over into future races.
