Xfinity: Erik Jones Wins Regular Season Finale at Chicago
After the Cup drivers controlled much of the race, Xfinity Series regular Erik Jones held on for the win in the Drive for Safety 300 at Chicagoland.
The regular season finale for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Chicagoland Speedway means the first-ever Chase is right around the corner. Twelve drivers will move on to race for the championship starting at Kentucky, but Erik Jones will come in with all the momentum. He was your winner on Saturday afternoon in the Drive for Safety 300.
After the race went green, it quickly became the Kyle and Kyle show, as Busch and Larson dominated at the front of the pack. At one point, the two had lapped up to eleventh place, leaving just ten cars on the lead lap. However, both would experience problems that would take the victory away.
The first with problems was Kyle Larson, who would get caught speeding on pit road and have to restart at the rear of the field just past halfway. While he would recover from that to finish second, he would only be contending in the final laps after a strong run through the pack.
Kyle Busch’s problems would be more ill-timed, and more costly. As the laps wound down, Busch would develop a tire problem, having one go flat and quickly lose his advantage at the front. He would spin, bringing out the caution, and never recovered. He would come home 13th.
With the two dominant drivers seemingly out of the picture, the Xfinity Series regulars would battle for the win. However, Kyle Larson would make a strong charge in the final ten laps to get to the rear of Erik Jones. He would not get around him, though, scraping the wall on the final lap. Erik Jones would comfortably cruise to victory in Chicago.
Here are the full results from the Drive for Safety 300 at Chicagoland Speedway:
The field is now set for the first-ever Xfinity Series Chase in 2016, with twelve drivers competing for the title. The Round of 12 will consist of Kentucky, Dover, and Charlotte before four drivers are eliminated. Then in the subsequent round of Kansas, Texas, and Phoenix, eight drivers will drop to the final four. Those four will then hunt down the crown at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Here is the Xfinity Series Chase grid heading into the opening race at Kentucky Speedway next weekend:
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The Xfinity Series Chase kicks off one week from now in the Bluegrass State. Catch the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 live from Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night, September 24th at 8:00 pm eastern. The race can be seen live on NBCSN.
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