2017 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Explained

Type:NASXFIN
Distance Laps:250
Announcers:Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte
Network:NBCSN
First Team:Team Penske
Most Team:Joe Gibbs Racing
Pole Team:Joe Gibbs Racing
Pole Driver:Kyle Busch
Most Driver:Kyle Busch
Most Laps:182
First Driver:Brad Keselowski
Date:September 8
Radio:Motor Racing Network
Distance Km:301.752
Location:Richmond, Virginia, Richmond Raceway
Scheduled Km:301.752
Scheduled Mi:187.5
Car:22
Scheduled Laps:250
Official Name:37th Annual Virginia 529 College Savings 250
Race Name:Virginia 529 College Savings 250
Pole Time:22.638
Year:2017
Course Km:1.21
Course Mi:0.75
Distance Mi:187.5
Avg:97.614mph
Race No:25
Season No:33

The 2017 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 was the 25th stock car race of the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, September 8, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 250 laps to complete. In the final stages of the race, Brad Keselowski, driving for Team Penske, would pull away from the field to win his 36th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win and his second and final win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Ty Dillon, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

Richmond Raceway (RR), formerly known as Richmond International Raceway (RIR), is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the IndyCar series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
0Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevroletJD Motorsports
00Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFordHaas Automation
1Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevroletOneMain Financial
01Harrison RhodesJD MotorsportsChevroletJD Motorsports
2Paul Menard (i)Richard Childress RacingChevroletMenards, Richmond Water Heaters
3Ty Dillon (i)Richard Childress RacingChevroletRheem
4Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevroletJD Motorsports
5Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevroletPilot Flying J
7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevroletHellmann's
07Ray Black Jr.SS-Green Light RacingChevroletGrunt Style "This We'll Defend"
8Tommy Joe MartinsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevroletCircle Track Warehouse
9William Byron (R)JR MotorsportsChevroletAxalta
11Blake KochKaulig RacingChevroletLeafFilter Gutter Protection
13Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsDodgeMBM Motorsports
14J. J. YeleyTriStar MotorsportsToyotaTriStar Motorsports
15Reed Sorenson (i)JD MotorsportsChevroletFlex Seal Liquid
16Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFordLilly Diabetes
18Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaNOS Energy
19Matt Tifft (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaTunity
20Christopher Bell (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaToyota
21Daniel Hemric (R)Richard Childress RacingChevroletBlue Gate Bank
22Brad Keselowski (i)Team PenskeFordFitzgerald Glider Kits
23Spencer Gallagher (R)GMS RacingChevroletAllegiant Air
24Dylan LuptonJGL RacingToyotaNut Up
28Dakoda ArmstrongJGL RacingToyotaJGL Racing
33Brandon JonesRichard Childress RacingChevroletPhone Skope
39Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevroletRSS Racing
40Bobby Dale EarnhardtMBM MotorsportsChevroletTLC Resorts
42Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevroletBroken Bow Records, Jason Aldean "They Don't Know"
48Brennan PooleChip Ganassi RacingChevroletDC Solar
51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevroletRepairableVehicles.com
52Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevroletDonate Life Virginia
62Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevroletSouth Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
74Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodgeVeterans Motorsports Inc.
78John GrahamB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevroletMagellan Aviation Group, New York Islanders
88Dale Earnhardt Jr. (i)JR MotorsportsChevroletDegree Deodorant
89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevroletRacing with Jesus, Visone RV
90Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevroletW. G. Speeks, Mid-Atlantic Wrecker Service
93Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevroletRSS Racing
98Casey MearsBiagi-DenBeste RacingFordGEICO Military
99David StarrBJMM with SS-Green Light RacingChevroletBJMM with SS-Green Light Racing
Official entry list

Practice

The only one hour and 55-minute practice session was held on Friday, September 8, at 8:00 AM EST.[2] Blake Koch, driving for Kaulig Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.967 and an average speed of 122.912mph.[3]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
111Blake KochKaulig RacingChevrolet21.967122.912
29William Byron (R)JR MotorsportsChevrolet22.106122.139
333Brandon JonesRichard Childress RacingChevrolet22.159121.847
Full practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, September 8, at 4:15 PM EST. Since Richmond Raceway is under 2 miles (3.2 km) in length, the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included three rounds. The first round was 15 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 15 minutes. Then, the second round would consist of the fastest 24 cars in Round 1, and drivers would have 10 minutes to set a lap. Round 3 consisted of the fastest 12 drivers from Round 2, and the drivers would have 5 minutes to set a time. Whoever was fastest in Round 3 would win the pole.[4]

Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would win the pole after setting a time of 22.638 and an average speed of 119.268mph in the third round.[5]

Morgan Shepherd was the only driver to fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTime (R1)Speed (R1)Time (R2)Speed (R2)Time (R3)Speed (R3)
118Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota-*-*-*-*22.638119.268
248Brennan PooleChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet-*-*-*-*22.722118.828
322Brad Keselowski (i)Team PenskeFord-*-*-*-*22.746118.702
400Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord-*-*-*-*22.749118.687
588Dale Earnhardt Jr. (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*-*-*22.765118.603
69William Byron (R)JR MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*-*-*22.781118.520
711Blake KochKaulig RacingChevrolet-*-*-*-*22.810118.369
821Daniel Hemric (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*-*-*22.821118.312
97Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*-*-*22.841118.208
102Paul Menard (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*-*-*22.867118.074
111Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*-*-*22.881118.002
1216Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord-*-*-*-*23.107116.848
Eliminated in Round 2
1319Matt Tifft (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota-*-*22.784118.504--
1420Christopher Bell (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota-*-*22.806118.390--
1551Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet-*-*22.809118.374--
163Ty Dillon (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*22.845118.188--
1762Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*22.867118.074--
185Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*22.965117.570--
1939Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet-*-*23.018117.300--
2024Dylan LuptonJGL RacingToyota-*-*23.089116.939--
214Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*23.111116.827--
2298Casey MearsBiagi-DenBeste RacingFord-*-*23.166116.550--
2323Spencer Gallagher (R)GMS RacingChevrolet-*-*23.314115.810--
2490Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*23.345115.656--
Eliminated in Round 1
2542Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet22.975117.519----
2633Brandon JonesRichard Childress RacingChevrolet22.977117.509----
2793Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet22.982117.483----
2852Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet23.087116.949----
2999David StarrBJMM with SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet23.154116.611----
3014J. J. YeleyTriStar MotorsportsToyota23.164116.560----
3128Dakoda ArmstrongJGL RacingToyota23.169116.535----
3213Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsDodge23.232116.219----
3315Reed Sorenson (i)JD MotorsportsChevrolet23.372115.523----
Qualified by owner's points
3407Spencer BoydSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet23.590114.455----
358Tommy Joe MartinsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet23.729113.785----
3674Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodge23.902112.961----
3778John GrahamB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet24.445110.452----
3801Harrison RhodesJD MotorsportsChevrolet24.751109.087----
390Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet24.874108.547----
4040Bobby Dale EarnhardtMBM MotorsportsChevrolet25.244106.956----
Failed to qualify
4189Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevrolet23.441115.183----
Official starting lineup
*Time not available.

Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 75

Pos.DriverTeamMakePts
13Ty Dillon (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet0
220Christopher Bell (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota0
362Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet8
421Daniel Hemric (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet7
522Brad Keselowski (i)Team PenskeFord0
618Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota0
700Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord4
888Dale Earnhardt Jr. (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet0
92Paul Menard (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet0
107Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet1
Stage 2 Laps: 75
Pos.DriverTeamMakePts
122Brad Keselowski (i)Team PenskeFord0
218Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota0
321Daniel Hemric (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet8
43Ty Dillon (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet0
588Dale Earnhardt Jr. (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet0
67Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet5
71Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevrolet4
82Paul Menard (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet0
99William Byron (R)JR MotorsportsChevrolet2
1020Christopher Bell (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota0
Stage 3 Laps: 100
Fin[6] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPts
1322Brad Keselowski (i)Team PenskeFord25034running0
2118Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota250182running0
3163Ty Dillon (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet25016running0
4821Daniel Hemric (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet25013running48
5111Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevrolet2500running36
61420Christopher Bell (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota2500running0
769William Byron (R)JR MotorsportsChevrolet2500running32
897Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet2500running35
9588Dale Earnhardt Jr. (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet2500running0
10248Brennan PooleChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet2490running27
11711Blake KochKaulig RacingChevrolet2490running26
121216Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord2490running25
131319Matt Tifft (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota2490running24
14400Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord2490running27
15185Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet2490running22
161551Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet2490running21
172542Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet2490running20
183128Dakoda ArmstrongJGL RacingToyota2490running19
19102Paul Menard (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet2480running0
203014J. J. YeleyTriStar MotorsportsToyota2480running17
211762Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2485running24
222323Spencer Gallagher (R)GMS RacingChevrolet2470running15
232633Brandon JonesRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2470running14
242024Dylan LuptonJGL RacingToyota2470running13
252298Casey MearsBiagi-DenBeste RacingFord2460running12
261939Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet2460running11
272490Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet2460running10
28214Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevrolet2450running9
29358Tommy Joe MartinsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet2440running8
303801Harrison RhodesJD MotorsportsChevrolet2430running7
313407Spencer BoydSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2420running6
32390Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet2410running5
333674Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodge2330running4
344040Bobby Dale EarnhardtMBM MotorsportsChevrolet2290running3
352999David StarrBJMM with SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2160clutch2
362852Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet1640rear gear1
373778John GrahamB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet780rear gear1
383213Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsDodge330overheating1
393315Reed Sorenson (i)JD MotorsportsChevrolet170vibration0
402793Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet80electrical1
Failed to qualify
4189Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1Elliott Sadler894
2William Byron799 (-95)
3Justin Allgaier774 (–120)
14Daniel Hemric702 (–192)
15Brennan Poole701 (–193)
6Cole Custer617 (-277)
7Matt Tifft582 (-312)
8Blake Koch537 (-357)
19Ryan Reed512 (-382)
110Michael Annett512 (-382)
11Brendan Gaughan511 (-383)
12Dakoda Armstrong486 (-408)
Official driver's standings

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2017-09-09 . Brad Keselowski perseveres in NASCAR XFINITY race at Richmond . 2022-07-05 . ESPN.com . en.
  2. Web site: 2017-09-11 . 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Richmond Race Info . 2022-07-05 . ESPN.com . en.
  3. Web site: Long . Dustin . 2017-09-08 . Blake Koch leads final Xfinity practice at Richmond . 2022-07-05 . NASCAR Talk NBC Sports . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2018-02-07 . NASCAR Qualifying Rules . 2021-11-12 . ESPN.com . en.
  5. Web site: McFadin . Daniel . 2017-09-08 . Kyle Busch wins pole for Richmond Xfinity race . 2022-07-05 . NASCAR Talk NBC Sports . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2017 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 - The Third Turn . 2022-07-04 . www.thethirdturn.com . en.