2024 Drive for the Cure 250

The 2024 Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina was the 29th stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, the third race of the playoffs, the final race of the Round of 12, and the 7th iteration of the event. The race was held on October 12, 2024, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval layout in Concord, North Carolina, a 2.32 miles (3.73 km) permanent road course. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 67 laps, but was extended to 72 laps due to an overtime finish. In an action-packed event that sparked late-race controversy, Sam Mayer, driving for JR Motorsports, would take away the lead from Parker Kligerman in a fierce battle on the final restart, and cruised the rest of the way to earn his seventh career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his third of the season. Mayer would also claim a spot in the next round of the playoffs.[9] Although there were numerous lead changes, A. J. Allmendinger led a race-high 18 laps, finishing second behind eventual winner Mayer. To fill out the podium, Shane van Gisbergen, driving for Kaulig Racing, would finish 3rd, respectively.

2024 Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Race 29 of 33 in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date October 12, 2024 (2024-10-12)
Location Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
2.32 mi (3.73 km)
Distance 72 laps, 167 mi (268 km)
Scheduled Distance 67 laps, 155 mi (250 km)
Average speed 66.290 mph (106.683 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Kaulig Racing
Time 1:24.523
Most laps led
Driver A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing
Laps 18
Winner
No. 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network The CW (produced by NBC Sports)
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte.
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN

Following the race, Gisbergen, Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, and Kligerman were eliminated from playoff contention. Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Mayer, Jesse Love, Allmendinger, and Sammy Smith would advance into the Round of 8.[10]

Report

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Background

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Charlotte Motor Speedway, the circuit where the race is held.

Since 2018, deviating from past NASCAR events at Charlotte, the race will utilize a road course configuration of Charlotte Motor Speedway, promoted and trademarked as the "Roval". The course is 2.28 miles (3.67 km) in length and features 17 turns, utilizing the infield road course and portions of the oval track. The race will be contested over a scheduled distance of 109 laps, 400 kilometres (250 mi).

During July 2018 tests on the road course, concerns were raised over drivers "cheating" the backstretch chicane on the course. The chicanes were modified with additional tire barriers and rumble strips in order to encourage drivers to properly drive through them, and NASCAR will enforce drive-through penalties on drivers who illegally "short-cut" parts of the course. The chicanes will not be used during restarts. In the summer of 2019, the bus stop on the backstretch was changed and deepened, becoming a permanent part of the circuit, compared to the previous year where it was improvised.

If a driver fails to legally make the backstretch bus stop, the driver must skip the frontstretch chicane and make a complete stop by the dotted line on the exit before being allowed to continue. A driver who misses the frontstretch chicane must stop before the exit.

On May 26, 2024, it was announced that the Charlotte Roval would get a redesign, featuring an updated infield road course which includes an extension of the straightaway after turn 5, a new turn 6, and a sharper hairpin for turn 7, in addition the apex for turn 16 on the final chicane was made tighter.[11]

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
  • (P) denotes playoff driver.
  • (OP) denotes owner's playoff car.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Cole Custer (P) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford Andy's Frozen Custard
1 Sam Mayer (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet QPS Employment Group
2 Jesse Love (R) (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Whelen
5 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet Dude Wipes
07 Sage Karam SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Kellum Law Firm
7 Justin Allgaier (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet Jarrett Logistics
8 Sammy Smith (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet Pilot Flying J
9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet Delta Faucet Company / Menards
11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Alloy Employer Services
14 Nathan Byrd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet ASAP Commercial Doors
15 Dylan Lupton AM Racing Ford Lupton Excavation
16 A. J. Allmendinger (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Campers Inn RV
18 Sheldon Creed (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Friends of Jaclyn Foundation
19 Josh Bilicki Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Insurance King
20 Aric Almirola (OP) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Samaritan's Purse
21 Austin Hill (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Bennett Transportation
26 Ed Jones Sam Hunt Racing Toyota Toyota Racing Development
27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet BG Products
28 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford Sci Aps
29 Blaine Perkins RSS Racing Ford To The POINT
31 Parker Retzlaff Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet Carolina Cowboys
32 Austin Green Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 3Dimensional.com
35 Thomas Annunziata Joey Gase Motorsports Toyota NFPA
38 Matt DiBenedetto RSS Racing Ford Malvern Panalytical
39 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford RSS Racing
42 Leland Honeyman (R) Young's Motorsports Chevrolet DPR Construction
43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Classic Collision
44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Macc Door Systems
45 Brad Perez Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet KSDT / Loose is Fast Podcast
48 Parker Kligerman (P) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Big Machine Spiked Coolers
50 Preston Pardus Pardus Racing Chevrolet Chinchor Electric Inc.
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet
81 Chandler Smith (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Wheelers
88 Connor Mosack (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet Apollo Pex
91 Alex Labbe DGM Racing Chevrolet DGM Racing
92 Dawson Cram (i) DGM Racing Chevrolet Trade With the Pros
97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet WeatherTech
98 Riley Herbst (P) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford Monster Energy
Official entry list

Practice

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The first and only practice session was held on Saturday, October 12, at 10:00 AM EST, and would last for 50 minutes.[12] Shane van Gisbergen, driving for Kaulig Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:25.221, and a speed of 96.314 mph (155.002 km/h).

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:25.221 96.314
2 1 Sam Mayer (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:25.640 95.843
3 2 Jesse Love (R) (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:25.832 95.629
Full practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying will be held on Saturday, October 12, at 11:00 AM EST.[12] Since the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval layout is a road course, the qualifying system is a two group system, with two rounds. Drivers will be separated into two groups, Group A and Group B. Each driver will have multiple laps to set a time. The fastest 5 drivers from each group will advance to the final round. The fastest driver to set a time in the final round will win the pole.[13]

Under a 2021 rule change, the timing line in road course qualifying is "not" the start-finish line. Instead, the timing line for qualifying will be set at the exit of Turn 13. Shane van Gisbergen, driving for Kaulig Racing, would win the pole after advancing from the preliminary round and setting the fastest time in Round 2, with a lap of 1:24.523, and a speed of 97.110 mph (156.283 km/h).[14]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time (R1) Speed (R1) Time (R2) Speed (R2)
1 97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:24.658 96.955 1:24.523 97.110
2 1 Sam Mayer (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:24.674 96.936 1:24.731 96.871
3 16 A. J. Allmendinger (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:24.680 96.930 1:24.814 96.776
4 19 Josh Bilicki Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:24.916 96.660 1:25.273 96.256
5 18 Sheldon Creed (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:25.172 96.370 1:25.280 96.248
6 21 Austin Hill (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:24.930 96.644 1:25.337 96.183
7 81 Chandler Smith (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:25.074 96.481 1:25.398 96.115
8 2 Jesse Love (R) (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:25.343 96.177 1:25.430 96.079
9 7 Justin Allgaier (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:25.622 95.863 1:25.722 95.751
10 88 Connor Mosack (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:25.481 96.021 1:25.825 95.636
Eliminated in Round 1
11 5 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet 1:25.378 96.137
12 98 Riley Herbst (P) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 1:25.701 95.775
13 20 Aric Almirola (OP) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:25.708 95.767
14 00 Cole Custer (P) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 1:25.779 95.688
15 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:25.790 95.675
16 8 Sammy Smith (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:25.796 95.669
17 32 Austin Green Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 1:25.892 95.562
18 26 Ed Jones Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 1:25.909 95.543
19 91 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 1:25.996 95.446
20 31 Parker Retzlaff Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 1:26.051 95.385
21 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 1:26.096 95.335
22 48 Parker Kligerman (P) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 1:26.111 95.319
23 11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:26.205 95.215
24 44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 1:26.292 95.119
25 28 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 1:26.493 94.898
26 38 Matt DiBenedetto RSS Racing Ford 1:26.552 94.833
27 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 1:26.603 94.777
28 07 Sage Karam SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 1:26.812 94.549
29 50 Preston Pardus Pardus Racing Chevrolet 1:26.952 94.397
30 43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 1:26.995 94.350
31 45 Brad Perez Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 1:27.081 94.257
32 35 Thomas Annunziata Joey Gase Motorsports Toyota 1:27.171 94.160
33 42 Leland Honeyman (R) Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 1:27.434 93.877
Qualified by owner's points
34 29 Blaine Perkins RSS Racing Ford 1:27.438 93.872
35 39 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 1:27.889 93.391
36 15 Dylan Lupton AM Racing Ford 1:28.059 93.210
37 92 Dawson Cram (i) DGM Racing Chevrolet 1:28.422 92.828
38 14 Nathan Byrd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 1:30.006 91.194
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Late-race controversy

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During the late stages of the race, NASCAR faced heavy criticism due to an incident that occurred with two laps to go. With two to go, an incident occurred after Leland Honeyman locked his brakes up and plowed into the tire barriers in turn three, becoming stuck. NASCAR continued on with the race, with Parker Kligerman (in a must-win situation) leading over Sam Mayer. NASCAR eventually brought out the caution as Kligerman crossed the start/finish line for the white flag. It was determined that the leader did not take the white flag before the caution came out; NASCAR would rule that the caution came out just a few feet before Kligerman crossed the line, resulting in an overtime restart. Mayer would eventually pass Kligerman on the final restart to win the race, earning his spot in the next round of the playoffs. Kligerman was officially scored in the sixth position, falling back numerous spots after a tire rub ended his chances at a win.[15][16]

Race results

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Stage 1 Laps: 20

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 16 A. J. Allmendinger (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 10
2 97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 9
3 7 Justin Allgaier (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 21 Austin Hill (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 7
5 2 Jesse Love (R) (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 6
6 18 Sheldon Creed (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 88 Connor Mosack (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 0
8 98 Riley Herbst (P) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 19 Josh Bilicki Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2
10 81 Chandler Smith (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1

Stage 2 Laps: 20

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 7 Justin Allgaier (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 88 Connor Mosack (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 0
3 1 Sam Mayer (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 20 Aric Almirola (OP) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 42 Leland Honeyman (R) Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 6
6 16 A. J. Allmendinger (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 5
7 97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 4
8 81 Chandler Smith (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 07 Sage Karam SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 2
10 19 Josh Bilicki Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1

Stage 3 Laps: 32

Pos.[17] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts
1 2 1 Sam Mayer (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 72 13 Running 48
2 3 16 A. J. Allmendinger (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 72 18 Running 50
3 1 97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) (P) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 72 7 Running 47
4 6 21 Austin Hill (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 40
5 7 81 Chandler Smith (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 72 1 Running 36
6 22 48 Parker Kligerman (P) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 72 12 Running 31
7 9 7 Justin Allgaier (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 72 6 Running 48
8 4 19 Josh Bilicki Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 72 10 Running 32
9 13 20 Aric Almirola (OP) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 72 0 Running 35
10 16 8 Sammy Smith (P) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 72 0 Running 27
11 15 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 72 0 Running 26
12 20 31 Parker Retzlaff Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 25
13 14 00 Cole Custer (P) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 72 0 Running 24
14 19 91 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 23
15 27 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 22
16 11 5 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet 72 0 Running 21
17 25 28 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 72 0 Running 20
18 10 88 Connor Mosack (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 72 5 Running 0
19 8 2 Jesse Love (R) (P) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 24
20 21 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 17
21 29 50 Preston Pardus Pardus Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 16
22 26 38 Matt DiBenedetto RSS Racing Ford 72 0 Running 15
23 35 39 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 72 0 Running 14
24 37 92 Dawson Cram (i) DGM Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 0
25 38 14 Nathan Byrd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 12
26 31 45 Brad Perez Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 72 0 Running 11
27 36 15 Dylan Lupton AM Racing Ford 71 0 Running 10
28 33 42 Leland Honeyman (R) Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 65 0 Accident 15
29 28 07 Sage Karam SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 63 0 Brakes 10
30 17 32 Austin Green Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 58 0 Engine 7
31 30 43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 58 0 Running 6
32 12 98 Riley Herbst (P) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 57 0 Driveshaft 8
33 34 29 Blaine Perkins RSS Racing Ford 56 0 Running 4
34 32 35 Thomas Annunziata Joey Gase Motorsports Toyota 52 0 Accident 3
35 5 18 Sheldon Creed (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 38 0 Accident 7
36 23 11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 32 0 Accident 1
37 18 26 Ed Jones Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 32 0 Accident 1
38 24 44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 32 0 Accident 1
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2024 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "Charlotte Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "Entry list" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  4. ^ "Practice Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  5. ^ "Qualifying Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  6. ^ "Starting lineup" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Race Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "Sam Mayer has walk-off win at Charlotte Roval, advances to Round of 8". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  10. ^ Richardson, Cameron (October 12, 2024). "Allgaier bounces back at Roval to reach Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 8, SVG eliminated". The Official Site of NASCAR. NASCAR. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  11. ^ "CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY TO RECONFIGURE ROVAL™ AHEAD OF BANK OF AMERICA ROVAL™ 400". May 26, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval Race Page". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 27, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  14. ^ Christie, Toby (October 12, 2024). "Shane Van Gisbergen Blasts to ROVAL Pole; Third Career Xfinity Pole". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Sturniolo, Zach (October 12, 2024). "Parker Kligerman's playoff dreams slip away in overtime restart". The Official Site of NASCAR. NASCAR. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  16. ^ DeGroot, Nick (October 12, 2024). "Parker Kligerman: "I Don't Know How To Process" Heartbreaking Loss". Motorsport.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "2024 Drive for the Cure 250 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.


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