Richmond
Richmond Report
Parker Kligerman and the Spiked Light Coolers team clinched a spot in the Dash 4 Cash event at Martinsville Speedway, The highest finisher of the four Dash 4 Cash drivers will collect an extra $100,000 bonus.
Kligerman’s path to Dash 4 Cash eligibility included a balky shifter linkage in the early portions of the race, then a tire-strategy call that panned out with fresher rubber for the final stage. He closed out the day with a valiant battle with Super Late Model short-track ace Bubba Pollard, who snared the sixth spot.
Parker congratulated Bubba on his successful Xfinity debut on pit road at the end, telling him he had fun racing with him.
“It was fun. He’s a great dude, and I’ve watched a lot of his racing. I’ve never met him,” Kligerman said. “I got into him one time by accident, but he raced me super-clean at the end and for 40 laps, we ran right with each other. This is his kind of place and he showed up and showed why he deserves his chance in this car. Cool to race a legend like that. I mean, he’s done way more in this sport driving-wise, I’d have to do another 10 years to get his level.”
Parker started P9 and finished P7. He is 8th in points for the season.
Chandler Smith cruised to a 4.495-seconds victory over teammates Aric Almirola and Tanner Gray.
Sammy Smith, Aric Almirola, Jessie Love and Kligerman will compete for the Dash 4 Cash at Martinsville Speedway Saturday. Watch it on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. eastern. Hear it on Sirius XM Channel 90 and MRN. For the station near you, click here.
Overview
Event: Richmond 250
Date: Saturday March 30, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. eastern
Location: Richmond Raceway
Layout: .750 mile D shape asphalt
Laps: 250
Miles: 187.5
Stage Lengths: 75/150/250
TV: FS1
Radio: Sirius XM Channel 90 and MRN. For the station near you, click here.
Driver Points: 147, 7th place
Notes of interest:
“So proud of this race team and our start to the season,” says Parker Kligerman. “After 5 races to be 7th in points and better than last year in almost in every metric is awesome! COTA was great and on all our metrics showed we were the 3rd fastest car which makes me super excited for the next road course. Looking ahead to Richmond, we ran great there last year and I feel super confident in how we have improved our cars and my driving on short tracks, since then. Let’s keep the momentum rolling!”
Show Me The Money: Who will qualify for the first round of Xfinity’s Dash 4 Cash?
Back once again thanks to its unparalleled popularity, the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash program returns for another year of unpredictability and drama leading up to and during the four designated races in the program, giving drivers the opportunity to win a $100,000 bonus.
This Saturday’s race at Richmond Raceway will serve as the qualifier for the first Dash 4 Cash race this season. To qualify, drivers must be full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and be declared for points. According to the preliminary entry list, only two drivers currently entered are not eligible for the Dash 4 Cash this weekend, and that is NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series full time drivers Corey Heim (No. 26) and Taylor Gray (No. 19).
The four highest-finishing eligible Xfinity drivers will set the field for the first Dash 4 Cash race, which takes place on April 6 at Martinsville Speedway.
The Dash 4 Cash will continue with the April 13 race at Texas Motor Speedway and the April 20 race at Talladega Superspeedway. The Dash 4 Cash fun will conclude on April 27 at Dover Motor Speedway.
Grab a gear Richmond Raceway is up next
The NASCAR Xfinity Series is heading up to Richmond Raceway for the sixth race of the 2024 season.
This will be the 78th NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the 0.75-mile Richmond track. The previous 77 races have produced 39 different race winners and 40 different pole winners.
Sixteen of the 77 Xfinity races at Richmond have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Ty Gibbs in 2022.
Kevin Harvick leads Xfinity Series at Richmond Raceway in wins (seven), top fives (18) and top 10s (21).
Kyle Busch holds a few records at the track himself – most poles (six), most laps led (1,497), and holds the qualifying record with his speed of 129.248 mph set in 2004.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will have a jam-packed Saturday with practice at 8:35 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 9:05 a.m. ET. Practice, qualifying, and the race will all be broadcast on FS1.
Xfinity Series Richmond winners looking for a repeat
Richmond Raceway is a track that very few drivers entered have conquered. In fact, only two Xfinity Series drivers competing this weekend have made the trip to Victory Lane – Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer.
Allgaier is quite the veteran at Richmond Raceway with 23 starts under his belt, two wins (both in 2020), eight top fives, 11 top 10s and 496 laps led.
Custer has made eight trips to the 0.75-mile track in the Xfinity Series, posting one win (2019), three top fives, five top 10s and 165 laps led.
Both Allgaier and Custer are still looking for their first wins of the 2024 season.
Xfinity Sunoco Rookie of the Year Update: Love keeps mounting the points
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Class now have five races under their belts and Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love remains atop the standings (166 points) with Shane van Gisbergen still in second back -58 points with 108 total.
Leland Honeyman Jr. slides in at third with 85 points (-81 from rookie standings lead), followed by Hailie Deegan with 51 points (-115) and Dawson Cram with 24 points (-142).
All drivers, besides Honeyman, will be making their series debuts at Richmond Raceway on Saturday. Honeyman made his first Xfinity start at the 0.75-mile track last season, posting a 25th-place finish.
Late Model standout Bubba Pollard to make NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Richmond
Bubba Pollard, 37, will be getting behind the No. 88 Chevrolet to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Richmond Raceway.
Pollard has famously won more than 100 Late Model races in his career.
“I’m very excited,” Pollard said. “I really don’t know what to expect, as it’s all very new to us, but I’m very thankful for the opportunity. I hope we can make the most of it. I’ve never had any laps at Richmond, and I haven’t driven an Xfinity car, so it’s all going to be new.”
Taylor Gray joins Joe Gibbs Racing in Richmond
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver Taylor Gray will be making his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Richmond Raceway. Gray will be piloting the No. 19 at Richmond Raceway and will be working with crew chief Seth Chavka.
Gray will be the fourth different driver to strap into the No. 19 this season; joining Aric Almirola, Ryan Truex and Ty Gibbs. So far, the best finish by the prior three drivers this season was a ninth-place finish by Truex at Atlanta.
Morgen Baird to make NASCAR Xfinity Series debut
Jumping into the No. 4 Chevrolet this weekend will be driver Morgen Baird, as he will attempt to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series career debut.
Baird most recently raced Modifieds with Hire Racing in 2023 and has run part-time in the ARCA Menards Series the last eight seasons with multiple teams.
Baird has cut his teeth racing go-karts, Cup Mini cars and Dwarf Cars as a kid. In total, he has made 13 ARCA Menards Series starts in his career posting three top-10 finishes.
Xfinity Series Upcoming Milestones – Over the next couple of races, these drivers will be making milestone starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Brandon Jones will be making his 275th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Richmond Raceway this weekend. Jones will become the 36th different driver to make 275 or more starts in the series.
Cole Custer is expected to make his 150th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Martinsville Speedway.
Riley Herbst is expected to make his 150th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Texas Motor Speedway.