Aric Almirola won the DUDE Wipes 250 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday (April 6) after an overtime finish, his first win of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. It also marked the fifth series victory of his career and second with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Almirola’s last win with the team dates to 2007 at Milwaukee Mile, where he was subbed out mid-race for Denny Hamlin. Hamlin ended up crossing the line first, but Almirola was credited with his first win in the Xfinity Series (formerly Busch Series). Almirola led a race-high 142 laps almost 17 full years later at Martinsville en route to his second win for Gibbs.
Sam Mayer had his best finish of the season after crossing the line second. Mayer worked his way up the field late, having been on a differing tire strategy in the early stages of the race. Mayer was leading at the overtime restart, but was challenged from behind by Sheldon Creed, and the ensuing contact allowed Almirola to slip by on the outside coming out of turn 2. Mayer finished 1.231 seconds behind Almirola.
Two-time winner this season and JGR teammate Chandler Smith finished third, while Carson Kvapil completed his Xfinity debut by finishing fourth. Kvapil’s JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier rounded out the top five.
Creed, Sammy Smith, Cole Custer, Jesse Love and Josh Williams completed the top 10.
Jones won the pole but had to go to the rear for a brake problem after yesterday’s (April 5) qualifying. Custer jumped to the lead to start the race over Creed, leading the opening 27 laps. That span included the first caution of the race, which flew for Smith making contact with Dexter Bean and a subsequent spin from the No. 92.
Almirola took the lead from Custer on lap 28, maintaining the lead over Creed for the stage one win. The remainder of the stage featured the second caution of the day, involving Hailie Deegan, Brennan Poole and Kyle Weatherman.
Custer, Mayer and AJ Allmendinger completed the stage one top five.
Stage two started with a massive pileup on the restart after Jones missed a shift. Almirola was the car behind Jones, and many drivers behind Almirola were involved in the crash including Austin Hill, Corey Heim, Parker Retzlaff, Riley Herbst, Allmendinger, Taylor Gray, Anthony Alfredo, Logan Bearden, Leland Honeyman, Jeremy Clements, Deegan, Bean and Weatherman, among others.
Sammy Smith took the lead on the second restart of stage two on lap 81, remaining out front until nine laps…
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