Bristol Race Results: Aric Almirola Wins the Food City 300 (September 12, 2025)
Aric Almirola emerged victorious at the Bristol Motor Speedway on September 12, 2025, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300. The race, held at the iconic half-mile track in Bristol, Tennessee, saw intense competition and several dramatic moments across its three stages.
Race Highlights
The race was characterized by close racing and strategic pit stops. Justin Allgaier started on the pole alongside Sam Mayer and dominated much of the early stages, winning Stage 1. However, Connor Zilisch claimed victory in Stage 2, setting the stage for a thrilling final segment. Several cautions punctuated the race, influencing pit strategies and creating opportunities for drivers to gain positions.
Stage Summaries
Stage 1
Justin Allgaier led the field early, holding off Sam Mayer. A caution occurred on lap 11 due to a spin by Kyle Sieg. Allgaier maintained his lead through the restart and ultimately won Stage 1, ahead of Connor Zilisch and Harrison Burton.
Stage 2
Allgaier continued to lead at the start of Stage 2, but Sam Mayer challenged him aggressively for the top spot. Mayer eventually took the lead before Connor Zilisch surged to the front in the closing laps, winning Stage 2. The battle between Zilisch and Mayer was particularly intense, with the two drivers running side-by-side to the finish line.
Stage 3
Connor Zilisch started Stage 3 in the lead, but Daniel Dye's spin brought out a caution, prompting pit strategy decisions. Almirola stayed out during the caution, inheriting the lead. A late caution involving Carson Ware and Sam Mayer, and later Sheldon Creed who made contact with the wall, tightened the field. Almirola ultimately held off a hard-charging Sheldon Creed to secure the win.
Race Results
| Pos | Driver |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aric Almirola |
| 2 | Sheldon Creed |
| 3 | Sam Mayer |
| 4 | Carson Kvapil |
| 5 | Connor Zilisch |
| 6 | Justin Allgaier |
| 7 | Harrison Burton |
| 8 | Christian Eckes |
| 9 | Jeremy Clements |
| 10 | Brennan Poole |
| 11 | Brandon Jones |
| 12 | Dean Thompson |
| 13 | Nick Sanchez |
| 14 | Taylor Gray |
| 15 | William Sawalich |
| 16 | Parker Retzlaff |
| 17 | Corey Day |
| 18 | Jeb Burton |
| 19 | Austin Hill |
| 20 | Brenden Queen |
| 21 | Kyle Sieg |
| 22 | Anthony Alfredo |
| 23 | Ryan Sieg |
| 24 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 25 | Jesse Love |
| 26 | Daniel Dye |
| 27 | Jeffrey Earnhardt |
| 28 | Josh Williams |
| 29 | Josh Bilicki |
| 30 | Logan Bearden |
| 31 | Austin Green |
| 32 | Leland Honeyman |
| 33 | Carson Ware |
| 34 | Blaine Perkins |
| 35 | Joey Gase |
| 36 | Stefan Parsons |
| 37 | Sammy Smith |
| 38 | Ryan Ellis |
Point Standings
Following the Bristol race, the NASCAR Xfinity Series point standings have shifted. Connor Zilisch leads the standings with a significant points advantage.
| Pos | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor Zilisch | +85 |
| 2 | Justin Allgaier | +53 |
| 3 | Sam Mayer | +35 |
| 4 | Carson Kvapil | +16 |
| 5 | Harrison Burton | +9 |
| 6 | Brandon Jones | +8 |
| 7 | Sheldon Creed | +7 |
| 8 | Taylor Gray | +3 |
| 9 | Nick Sanchez | -3 |
| 10 | Jesse Love | -3 |
| 11 | Austin Hill | -16 |
| 12 | Sammy Smith | -24 |
Fantasy NASCAR Asterisk Mark Report
Ryan Rantz of ifantasyrace.com provides insights into driver performances and "Asterisk Mark" results, indicating misleading or unlucky outcomes based on total speed rankings at "Conventional Tracks."
- Alex Bowman: Despite leading early and showing strong speed, a late engine issue resulted in a 37th-place finish.
- Carson Hocevar: A pit stop problem during his final green flag stop hampered what would have been a top five finish.
- Tyler Reddick: A pit strategy gamble didn't pay off, leading to an 18th-place finish despite consistent speed.
- Shane van Gisbergen: Contact with the wall led to significant damage and a 38th place finish.