Aric Almirola delivered a spectacular performance to claim victory in the 2025 NASCAR GOVX 200 Phoenix Xfinity Race marking one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory.
The race, held on Saturday, March 8, at Phoenix Raceway showcased intense competition, strategic maneuvers, and thrilling late-race drama that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The GOVX 200 Phoenix Xfinity Race marked Aric Almirola’s first win since returning to part-time racing with Joe Gibbs Racing. The veteran driver capitalized on a chaotic overtime finish to edge out Alex Bowman in a nail-biting conclusion.
The race began with Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman starting from pole position. Bowman dominated Stage 1, leading all 46 laps and showcasing exceptional speed and coordination with his team during pit stops.
Bowman’s performance set the tone for what would be a highly competitive event. However, as the race progressed into Stage 2 defending Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier emerged as a formidable contender.
Allgaier leveraged his experience at Phoenix Raceway—where he had previously tasted victory—to take control of the race by passing Bowman for the lead.
Stage 2 ended with Justin Allgaier in command, followed closely by Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman. Brandon Jones also executed a spirited charge, climbing into contention for a top-three finish.
The final stage at the GOVX 200 Phoenix Xfinity Race saw intense battles among the frontrunners, with Bowman and Allgaier locking in a fierce duel for supremacy.
Almirola appeared to be fading from contention as the laps wound down, but a late caution flag caused by Mason Massey’s incident would ultimately change the outcome of the race. The caution forced the race into overtime, setting up a two-lap shootout that would decide the winner.
As the green flag waved for overtime, Justin Allgaier led the field with Aric Almirola alongside him on the front row. However, Allgaier’s grip faltered in Turn 2 of the restart lap, allowing Bowman to seize the lead on the backstretch.
Almirola stayed close behind Bowman as they approached Turn 3 on the final lap, and in a daring move, Almirola dove low to challenge Bowman for the lead. His No. 19 Toyota briefly broke loose and slid up the track, making contact with Bowman’s car and sending him into the outside wall.
Despite the aggressive maneuver, Almirola managed to maintain control and crossed the finish line to win the GOVX 200 Phoenix Xfinity Race just 0.045 seconds ahead of Bowman—the second-closest finish in Phoenix Raceway’s history.
“I just knew I needed to get from there to here first,” Almirola said after his burnout celebration. “I knew I was going to use him up a little bit, but was trying to win the race.
“I feel like it was warranted. I didn’t feel like I did anything overly egregious. I just throttled up, and it was a drag race to the start-finish line.”
Alex Bowman settled for second place after leading 50 laps in his first Xfinity start of the season while Brandon Jones secured third place with consistent performance throughout the race’s latter stages.
Ryan Sieg impressed with a fourth-place finish despite competing in a backup car after an earlier incident during practice. Justin Allgaier rounded out the top five but was left lamenting another missed opportunity at Phoenix Raceway after leading an impressive 130 of 208 laps.
The rest of the top ten featured Taylor Gray in sixth place, followed by Sam Mayer in seventh and Christian Eckes in eighth. Daytona winner Jesse Love finished ninth, maintaining his lead in the season-long points standings with 143 points.
Nick Sanchez completed the top ten with a solid performance that highlighted his growing potential as a young driver.
The Phoenix Xfinity Race also saw its share of misfortune for several drivers. Austin Hill’s day ended prematurely on Lap 63 when he misjudged his entry into Turn 3 and collided with Sheldon Creed and Dean Thompson, resulting in a multi-car crash that eliminated all three drivers from contention.
Almirola’s victory was not only a testament to his skill but also a reminder of his enduring competitiveness despite transitioning to a part-time schedule to spend more time with his family.
The win marked his eighth career Xfinity Series victory and provided a moment of celebration for Joe Gibbs Racing as they continue to showcase their strength across NASCAR’s divisions.
As the dust settled on Phoenix Raceway, attention turned to how the GOVX 200 Phoenix Xfinity Race would impact the season standings. Jesse Love retained his position atop the leaderboard with 143 points, followed closely by Justin Allgaier with 141 points after his fifth-place finish.
Sam Mayer took third place with 130 points thanks to his consistent showing at Phoenix.
