Aric Almirola edges Justin Allgaier in controversial XFINITY finish
Aric Almirola won a controversial Subway Firecracker 250 Friday night at Daytona International Speedway, surviving a wild, wreck-filled race that included an overtime green-white-checkered photo finish.
It was so close at the end that even the winner wasn't sure he had earned the right to go to Victory Lane.
"It was an emotional last few laps," Almirola said. "I thought I had a shot to win, but wasn't sure I would get it done."
David Ragan took the lead with what he thought was just 11 laps to go in the XFINITY Series event that was scheduled for 100 laps and 250 miles -- but needed extra laps because of a late spin by David Starr that brought out the seventh caution of the night.
On the ensuing restart, Ragan dueled with Almirola for the lead, with Erik Jones and Justin Allgaier challenging from behind.
Eventually Almirola and Allgaier surged ahead, with Almirola edging out front first as Ragan fell back and wrecked into the outside wall, collecting multiple cars in yet another accident on a night full of them.
NASCAR officials did not throw the yellow caution flag right away, however, leading to confusion as to whether it was Almirola or Allgaier who won the race when the yellow caution lights eventually came on to freeze the field.
After several minutes, Almirola finally was declared the victory, with Allgaier finishing a very close second.
It was a crazy end to a wild night.
It didn't take long for the Fourth of July weekend fireworks to start in the race.
On Lap 15 of, The Big One occurred. It began at the front of the field at the exit of Turn 2. Brennan Poole was bump drafting when he made too-hard contact with Bubba Wallace, who lost control and veered from the outside lane back across the track.
And from there, it was on, as a bunch of fast cars got taken out or heavily damaged, including Wallace's Roush Fenway Racing Ford, the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas of Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones and Austin Dillon's Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
All told, 14 cars were involved.
"A little too exciting for how early we are for right now in the race," said Austin's brother, Ty.
The excitement, as it turned out, was far from over. In fact, it was only just getting started for the night.
Technically, it was the second series win of Almirola''s career. But he said he never wanted to take the credit for his first series win, at Milwaukee in 2007, because he began the race as a substitute driver for Denny Hamlin and gave way to the Sprint Cup veteran when Hamlin arrived late for the race from another venue.
"It is a huge night for me to get back to Victory Lane in the XFINITY Series," Almirola said. "I didn't feel like I truly won in the XFINITY Series before, but tonight was my night."
