# 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250

The 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on July 5, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Contested over 100 laps on the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) superspeedway, it was the 16th race of the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

## Background
### Track

The race was held at Daytona International Speedway, a race track located in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, the track is the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross. It features multiple layouts including the primary 2.5 miles (4.0 km) high speed tri-oval, a 3.56 miles (5.73 km) sports car course, a 2.95 miles (4.75 km) motorcycle course, and a .25 miles (0.40 km) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

## Entry list

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford |
| 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 01 | Stephen Leicht | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Matt Mills (R) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 08 | Gray Gaulding (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Sheldon Creed (i) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | Joe Nemechek (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 15 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | Ross Chastain (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Joe Graf Jr. | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 25 | Chris Cockrum | ACG Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | Shane Lee | H2 Motorsports | Toyota |
| 35 | Joey Gase | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 36 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 42 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet |
| 61 | Austin Hill (i) | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota |
| 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| 86 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 93 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford |
| 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |

## Practice
### Final practice

A. J. Allmendinger was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 46.177 seconds and a speed of 194.902 mph (313.664 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 10 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 46.177 | 194.902 |
| 2 | 25 | Chris Cockrum | ACG Motorsports | Chevrolet | 46.295 | 194.405 |
| 3 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 46.360 | 194.133 |

## Qualifying

Tyler Reddick scored the pole for the race with a time of 47.938 seconds and a speed of 187.743 mph (302.143 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time |
| 1 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 47.938 |
| 2 | 10 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 48.060 |
| 3 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.064 |
| 4 | 16 | Ross Chastain (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 48.065 |
| 5 | 08 | Gray Gaulding (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 48.101 |
| 6 | 21 | Joe Graf Jr. | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 48.119 |
| 7 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 48.140 |
| 8 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 48.157 |
| 9 | 8 | Sheldon Creed (i) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.194 |
| 10 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 48.271 |
| 11 | 18 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 48.278 |
| 12 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.309 |
| 13 | 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 48.327 |
| 14 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 48.334 |
| 15 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 48.353 |
| 16 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.358 |
| 17 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 48.377 |
| 18 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 48.390 |
| 19 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 48.553 |
| 20 | 38 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 48.607 |
| 21 | 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 48.618 |
| 22 | 25 | Chris Cockrum | ACG Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.626 |
| 23 | 93 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 48.692 |
| 24 | 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.872 |
| 25 | 01 | Stephen Leicht | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.883 |
| 26 | 36 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 48.890 |
| 27 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 49.031 |
| 28 | 5 | Matt Mills (R) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 49.164 |
| 29 | 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 49.182 |
| 30 | 15 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.213 |
| 31 | 42 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 49.300 |
| 32 | 28 | Shane Lee | H2 Motorsports | Toyota | 49.366 |
| 33 | 86 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.386 |
| 34 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 49.424 |
| 35 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.724 |
| 36 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 49.751 |
| 37 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 49.905 |
| 38 | 13 | Joe Nemechek (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 49.706 |
| Did not qualify ||||||
| 39 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 49.577 |
| 40 | 35 | Joey Gase | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 49.600 |
| 41 | 61 | Austin Hill (i) | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 0.000 |

## Race
### Summary

Tyler Reddick began on pole. The first caution occurred when Caesar Bacarella lost control of his car and spun, causing seven other drivers to be involved. Landon Cassill was the only driver taken out in this caution due to a bent track bar.
As the first stage neared its end, Ross Chastain blocked Reddick and narrowly missed the wall, but Reddick made contact with it. The stack-up from the two drivers resulted in Sheldon Creed and John Hunter Nemechek simultaneously spinning from contact, bringing out the second caution.
Chastain won Stage 1. On the final lap of the first stage, Justin Haley blocked several drivers from making a run, causing them to pass him from underneath, but NASCAR deemed he forced them below the double-yellow line, and sent him to the rear of the field.
Reddick got a flat tire in the middle of Stage 2 and collected Chase Briscoe, ending his day. A. J. Allmendinger blocked Chastain to win Stage 2. The first “Big One” occurred in the middle of the field later on and collected ten drivers. Riley Herbst spun with 21 laps remaining, but no caution was thrown. Another “Big One” 7 laps later took out fifteen drivers, including Michael Annett and Cole Custer, and also brought out a red flag.
On the final restart, Shane Lee and Justin Allgaier both spun out on separate occasions, but no caution was thrown for either instance. The trio of Kaulig Racing drivers proved too fast for any other driver to contend them. Chastain would win the race and was followed by teammates Haley and Allmendinger, Allmendinger would soon be disqualified after failing post race inspection.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 30
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 16 | Ross Chastain (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 2 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 18 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 4 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 86 | Brandon Brown (R) | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 1 |
Stage Two Laps: 30
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 16 | Ross Chastain (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 3 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 18 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 9 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 40
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 4 | 16 | Ross Chastain (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 |
| 2 | 7 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 42 |
| 3 | 8 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 100 | 43 |
| 4 | 19 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | 25 | 01 | Stephen Leicht | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 100 | 32 |
| 6 | 33 | 86 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 100 | 33 |
| 7 | 20 | 38 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 30 |
| 8 | 5 | 08 | Gray Gaulding (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 29 |
| 9 | 37 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 28 |
| 10 | 28 | 5 | Matt Mills (R) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 100 | 27 |
| 11 | 27 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 100 | 26 |
| 12 | 29 | 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 100 | 25 |
| 13 | 36 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 24 |
| 14 | 35 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 100 | 23 |
| 15 | 16 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 99 | 34 |
| 16 | 1 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 99 | 25 |
| 17 | 12 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 99 | 32 |
| 18 | 11 | 18 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 98 | 0 |
| 19 | 22 | 25 | Chris Cockrum | ACG Motorsports | Chevrolet | 97 | 18 |
| 20 | 18 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 97 | 23 |
| 21 | 32 | 28 | Shane Lee | H2 Motorsports | Toyota | 97 | 16 |
| 22 | 21 | 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 93 | 15 |
| 23 | 6 | 21 | Joe Graf Jr. | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 14 |
| 24 | 14 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 89 | 23 |
| 25 | 3 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 86 | 22 |
| 26 | 15 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 86 | 15 |
| 27 | 31 | 42 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 86 | 10 |
| 28 | 26 | 36 | Josh Williams | DGM Motorsports | Chevrolet | 86 | 9 |
| 29 | 13 | 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Motorsports | Chevrolet | 86 | 8 |
| 30 | 17 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 76 | 7 |
| 31 | 23 | 93 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 73 | 6 |
| 32 | 34 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 72 | 5 |
| 33 | 30 | 15 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 72 | 4 |
| 34 | 9 | 8 | Sheldon Creed (i) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 71 | 0 |
| 35 | 10 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 44 | 3 |
| 36 | 38 | 13 | Joe Nemechek (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 39 | 0 |
| 37 | 24 | 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 12 | 1 |
| 38 | 2 | 10 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 1 |

## After the race

A. J. Allmendinger was disqualified from his third-place finish after his car failed post-race inspection. This was the third consecutive week where a driver was disqualified with respect to the 2019 rules. Allmendinger's car failed an engine vacuum test, dialling back the initial 1-2-3 finish for Kaulig Racing to simply a 1-2 finish. Allmendinger was also stripped of his stage points after being relegated to last place.