2024 Raptor King of Tough 250 explained

Type:CUST
Location:Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia
Announcers:Adam Alexander, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano
Year:2024
Race Name:Raptor King of Tough 250
Scheduled Mi:251
Course Mi:1.54
Scheduled Laps:163
Scheduled Km:404
Avg:135.474mph
Car:21
First Driver:Austin Hill
First Team:Richard Childress Racing
Most Driver:Jesse Love
Most Laps:157
Most Team:Richard Childress Racing
Pole Time:31.874
Pole Team:Richard Childress Racing
Date:February 24
Network:FS1
Pole Driver:Jesse Love
Description:Race 2 of 33 of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Official Name:33rd Annual Raptor King of Tough 250
Course Km:2.48
Radio:PRN
Distance Mi:260
Distance Laps:169
Distance Km:418
Details Ref:[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

The 2024 Raptor King of Tough 250 was the 2nd stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, a 1.54miles permanent asphalt quad-oval shaped intermediate speedway (with superspeedway rules). The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 163 laps, but was increased to 169 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish.Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, took advantage of the lead on the final restart with two laps to go, and was able to stretch his fuel mileage to earn his 8th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, his second of the season, and his second consecutive win.[8] Hill's teammate, Jesse Love, was the most dominant driver of the race, winning both stages and leading a race-high 157 laps, before his car sputtered on the final restart.[9] To fill out the podium, Chandler Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Shane van Gisbergen, driving for Kaulig Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Report

Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Xfinity Series stock car races since 1992.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54miles where before it was 1.522miles. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. In July 2021 NASCAR announced that the track would be reprofiled for the 2022 season to have 28 degrees of banking and would be narrowed from 55 to 40 feet which the track claims will turn racing at the track similar to restrictor plate superspeedways. Despite the reprofiling being criticized by drivers, construction began in August 2021 and wrapped up in December 2021.[10] [11] The track has seating capacity of 71,000 to 125,000 people depending on the tracks configuration.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
00Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFordHaas Automation
1Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevroletRaptor High Heat
2Jesse Love (R)Richard Childress RacingChevroletWhelen
4Dawson Cram (R)JD MotorsportsChevroletKSDT CPA
5Anthony AlfredoOur MotorsportsChevroletChapman Fence
6Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevroletJD Motorsports
07Patrick EmerlingSS-Green Light RacingChevroletSIMFORGE
7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevroletJarrett 25 Years
8Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevroletPilot Flying J
9Brandon JonesJR MotorsportsChevroletAtlas Roofing / Menards
11Josh WilliamsKaulig RacingChevroletAlloy Employer Services
14J. J. YeleySS-Green Light RacingChevroletSS-Green Light Racing
15Hailie Deegan (R)AM RacingFordAirBox
16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevroletCampers Inn RV
18Sheldon CreedJoe Gibbs RacingToyotanowrapFriends of Jaclyn Foundation
19Ryan TruexJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaToyota Genuine Parts
20nowrapJohn Hunter Nemechek (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaPye Barker Fire & Safety
21Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevroletBennett Transportation
26Jeffrey EarnhardtSam Hunt RacingToyotaForeverLawn
27Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevroletState Water Heaters
28Kyle SiegRSS RacingFordNight Owl Companies
29Blaine PerkinsRSS RacingFordPritchard Injury Firm
31Parker RetzlaffJordan Anderson RacingChevroletFVP / Bommarito.com
32Jordan AndersonJordan Anderson RacingChevroletEasyCare
35Joey GaseJoey Gase MotorsportsChevroletNCPC Race Against Crime
38C. J. McLaughlinRSS RacingFordViking Motorsports
39Ryan SiegRSS RacingFordSci Aps
42Leland Honeyman (R)Young's MotorsportsChevroletLH Waterfront Construction
43Ryan EllisAlpha Prime RacingChevroletClassic Collision
44Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevroletFinance Pro Plus
48Parker KligermanBig Machine RacingChevroletnowrapBig Machine Spiked Light Coolers
51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevroletOne Stop / All South Electric
78B. J. McLeodnowrapB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevroletB. J. McLeod Motorsports
81Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaQuick Tie Products
91Kyle WeathermanDGM RacingChevroletDriveSmartWarranty.com
92Nick LeitzDGM RacingChevroletPrecision Measurements
97Shane van Gisbergen (R)Kaulig RacingChevroletWeatherTech
98Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFordMonster Energy
Official entry list

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, February 23, at 5:00 PM EST.[12] Since Atlanta Motor Speedway is an intermediate speedway with superspeedway rules, the qualifying system used is a single-car, single-lap system with two rounds. In the first round, drivers have one lap to set a time. The fastest ten drivers from the first round move on to the second round. Whoever sets the fastest time in Round 2 will win the pole.[13]

Jesse Love, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would advance from the preliminary round and set the fastest time in Round 2, with a lap of 31.874, and a speed of 173.935mph. He became the first driver in series history to earn two consecutive poles in his first two starts.[14]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTime (R1)Speed (R1)Time (R2)Speed (R2)
12Jesse Love (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet31.948173.53231.874173.935
221Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevrolet32.065172.89931.916173.706
320John Hunter Nemechek (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota32.086172.78631.947173.537
498Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFord32.168172.34531.999173.255
548Parker KligermanBig Machine RacingChevrolet32.151172.43632.022173.131
61Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevrolet32.251171.90232.028173.099
716A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet32.072172.86132.035173.061
819Ryan TruexJoe Gibbs RacingToyota32.213172.10432.079172.823
97Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet32.128172.56032.115172.630
1018Sheldon CreedJoe Gibbs RacingToyota32.254171.88632.141172.490
Eliminated in Round 1
1100Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFord32.258171.864
1281Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyota32.294171.673
1397Shane van Gisbergen (R)Kaulig RacingChevrolet32.337171.444
148Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet32.340171.429
155Anthony AlfredoOur MotorsportsChevrolet32.414171.037
1611Josh WilliamsKaulig RacingChevrolet32.430170.953
1791Kyle WeathermanDGM RacingChevrolet32.448170.858
189Brandon JonesJR MotorsportsChevrolet32.458170.805
1915Hailie Deegan (R)AM RacingFord32.477170.705
2039Ryan SiegRSS RacingFord32.531170.422
2178B. J. McLeodB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet32.676169.666
2226Jeffrey EarnhardtSam Hunt RacingToyota32.698169.552
2351Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet32.728169.396
2431Parker RetzlaffJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet32.772169.169
2527Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet32.796169.045
2628Kyle SiegRSS RacingFord32.853168.752
2738C. J. McLaughlinRSS RacingFord32.900168.511
2829Blaine PerkinsRSS RacingFord32.919168.413
294Dawson Cram (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet32.969168.158
3044Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet33.086167.563
3192Nick LeitzDGM RacingChevrolet33.100167.492
326Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet33.111167.437
3335Joey GaseJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet33.135167.316
Qualified by owner's points
3443Ryan EllisAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet33.147167.255
3542Leland Honeyman (R)Young's MotorsportsChevrolet33.151167.235
3614J. J. YeleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet33.187167.053
3707Patrick EmerlingSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet33.396166.008
3832Jordan AndersonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 40

Pos.DriverTeamMakePts
12Jesse Love (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet10
298Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFord9
31Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevrolet8
419Ryan TruexJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
548Parker KligermanBig Machine RacingChevrolet6
616A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet5
77Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet4
818Sheldon CreedJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3
939Ryan SiegRSS RacingFord2
108Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet1
Stage 2 Laps: 40
Pos.DriverTeamMakePts
12Jesse Love (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet10
27Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet9
398Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFord8
419Ryan TruexJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
58Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet6
681Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyota5
700Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFord4
821Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3
916A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet2
1018Sheldon CreedJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1
Stage 3 Laps: 89
Fin[15] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPts
1221Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1692Running43
21281Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1690Running40
31397Shane van Gisbergen (R)Kaulig RacingChevrolet1690Running34
41018Sheldon CreedJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1690Running37
52431Parker RetzlaffJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet1690Running32
62351Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet1690Running31
7155Anthony AlfredoOur MotorsportsChevrolet1690Running30
82226Jeffrey EarnhardtSam Hunt RacingToyota1690Running29
9819Ryan TruexJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1690Running42
10148Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet1690Running34
1161Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevrolet1690Running34
1212Jesse Love (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet169157Running45
13716A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet1698Running31
14189Brandon JonesJR MotorsportsChevrolet1690Running23
15498Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFord1680Running39
161100Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFord1680Running25
171791Kyle WeathermanDGM RacingChevrolet1680Running20
182178B. J. McLeodB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet1680Running19
19548Parker KligermanBig Machine RacingChevrolet1681Running24
203044Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet1670Running17
213542Leland Honeyman (R)Young's MotorsportsChevrolet1670Running16
222039Ryan SiegRSS RacingFord1670Running17
232527Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet1670Running14
243614J. J. YeleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1670Running13
253443Ryan EllisAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet1670Running12
263192Nick LeitzDGM RacingChevrolet1670Running11
271915Hailie Deegan (R)AM RacingFord1670Running10
2897Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet1670Running22
293335Joey GaseJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet1660Running8
302829Blaine PerkinsRSS RacingFord1660Running7
31294Dawson Cram (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet1660Running6
32320John Hunter Nemechek (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1650Running0
333707Patrick EmerlingSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1650Running4
34326Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet1650Running3
352738C. J. McLaughlinRSS RacingFord1640Running2
362628Kyle SiegRSS RacingFord1641Running1
371611Josh WilliamsKaulig RacingChevrolet1590Running1
383832Jordan AndersonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet980Steering1
Official race results

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1Austin Hill102
2Sheldon Creed85 (-17)
3Riley Herbst74 (–28)
34Chandler Smith72 (–30)
65Jesse Love72 (–30)
26Parker Retzlaff66 (–36)
107Ryan Truex64 (–38)
8A. J. Allmendinger63 (–39)
49Shane van Gisbergen59 (–43)
510Sammy Smith57 (–45)
611Justin Allgaier56 (–46)
312Cole Custer56 (–46)
Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings
PosManufacturerPoints
1Chevrolet80
2Toyota70 (–10)
3Ford53 (–27)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024 schedule . Jayski.com. . February 19, 2024.
  2. Web site: Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. February 19, 2024. January 3, 2013. February 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160219053741/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/atlanta-motor-speedway.html. dead.
  3. Web site: Entry list . Jayski.com. . February 23, 2024 . February 23, 2024.
  4. Web site: Qualifying Results . Jayski.com. . February 23, 2024. February 23, 2024.
  5. Web site: Starting lineup . Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 23, 2024. February 23, 2024.
  6. Web site: Race Results . Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 24, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  7. Web site: Points standings . Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 24, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  8. Web site: February 24, 2024 . Austin Hill stretches fuel mileage to win Xfinity race at Atlanta . February 24, 2024 . Jayski.com . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  9. Web site: Stumpf . Stephen . February 24, 2024 . Fuel Tank Sputter Denies Dominant Jesse Love at Atlanta . February 24, 2024 . Frontstretch.com.
  10. Web site: Atlanta Motor Speedway to re-profile track in 2022 and drivers are expressing frustration with the changes . 2021-09-06 . CBSSports.com . en.
  11. Web site: Atlanta Motor Speedway track reprofile begins NASCAR . 2021-09-06 . Official Site Of NASCAR . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Atlanta Motor Speedway Spring Race Page . February 20, 2024 . . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2024 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures . February 20, 2024 . . en-US.
  14. Web site: Christie . Toby . February 23, 2024 . Jesse Love Makes History with Second Consecutive Pole to Start Xfinity Career . February 23, 2024 . TobyChristie.com.
  15. Web site: 2024 RAPTOR King of Tough 250 - Racing Reference . February 24, 2024 . Racing-Reference.info.