# 2019 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200

The 2019 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on August 31, 2019, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested over 147 laps on the 1.366-mile (2.198 km) egg-shaped oval, it was the 24th race of the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

## Background
### Track

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

## Entry list

The entry list included semi-retired driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who decided to participate in the race despite being in a plane accident in mid-August 2019.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford |
| 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 01 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 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 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 13 | Tommy Joe Martins | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 15 | Stephen Leicht | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Joe Nemechek (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | Denny Hamlin (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 35 | Joey Gase | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 36 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | J. J. Yeley | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet |
| 61 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 86 | Brandon Brown (R) | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet |
| 90 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 93 | Camden Murphy | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford |
| 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |

## Practice
### First practice

Cole Custer was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 29.340 seconds and a speed of 167.607 mph (269.737 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 29.340 | 167.607 |
| 2 | 18 | Denny Hamlin (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.381 | 167.373 |
| 3 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.423 | 167.135 |

### Final practice

Noah Gragson was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 29.575 seconds and a speed of 166.276 mph (267.595 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.575 | 166.276 |
| 2 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.673 | 165.726 |
| 3 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.704 | 165.553 |

## Qualifying

Ryan Blaney scored the pole for the race with a time of 28.696 seconds and a speed of 171.369 mph (275.792 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 28.696 |
| 2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 28.828 |
| 3 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 28.874 |
| 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.928 |
| 5 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 28.955 |
| 6 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.020 |
| 7 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.077 |
| 8 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.098 |
| 9 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 29.162 |
| 10 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.178 |
| 11 | 01 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.178 |
| 12 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 29.241 |
| 13 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 29.441 |
| 14 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.453 |
| 15 | 08 | Gray Gaulding (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 29.636 |
| 16 | 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 29.641 |
| 17 | 90 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 29.726 |
| 18 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 29.799 |
| 19 | 86 | Brandon Brown (R) | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.874 |
| 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 29.879 |
| 21 | 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 29.966 |
| 22 | 93 | Camden Murphy | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 30.037 |
| 23 | 4 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.113 |
| 24 | 15 | Stephen Leicht | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.121 |
| 25 | 17 | Joe Nemechek (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 30.229 |
| 26 | 35 | Joey Gase | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 30.248 |
| 27 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 30.317 |
| 28 | 36 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 30.405 |
| 29 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.468 |
| 30 | 38 | J. J. Yeley | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 30.823 |
| 31 | 61 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 31.055 |
| 32 | 13 | Tommy Joe Martins | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 31.109 |
| 33 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 31.163 |
| 34 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.419 |
| 35 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 31.654 |
| 36 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.130 |
| 37 | 18 | Denny Hamlin (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 39.102 |
| 38 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 42.078 |

## Race
### Summary

Ryan Blaney started on pole and led early, holding off Tyler Reddick. After John Hunter Nemechek spun and caused a caution, Blaney pitted and gave the lead to Reddick, who won Stage 1. After Brandon Brown spun and hit the inside wall, Blaney and Justin Allgaier caught up to Reddick, with Blaney taking the Stage 2 victory. Allgaier and Cole Custer battled Reddick for top positions, while Denny Hamlin (who started at the rear of the field) caught up to the top 5.
Blaney left pit road with Custer and Hamlin behind him. Hamlin got by Custer and then slid past Blaney for the lead with 27 remaining. The final caution occurred with around 15 laps remaining, stacking up the field. Hamlin stayed in the lead while Custer took the second position. The restart happened with 10 laps to go. Hamlin took off and retained the lead, while Custer chased him closely.
On the final lap, Custer got right up to Hamlin's back and dove into turn 3. Custer was unable to make it stick, causing Hamlin to cross the finish line in first place and take the apparent victory. Although Hamlin was later disqualified, which gave Custer the race win despite him not leading a single lap.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 45
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 3 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 01 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage Two Laps: 45
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 2 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 57
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 3 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 147 | 52 |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 53 |
| 3 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 147 | 0 |
| 4 | 2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 147 | 47 |
| 5 | 14 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 41 |
| 6 | 5 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 147 | 42 |
| 7 | 7 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 147 | 36 |
| 8 | 8 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 30 |
| 9 | 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 43 |
| 10 | 9 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 147 | 29 |
| 11 | 12 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 28 |
| 12 | 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 25 |
| 13 | 10 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 24 |
| 14 | 13 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 23 |
| 15 | 15 | 08 | Gray Gaulding | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 22 |
| 16 | 18 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 21 |
| 17 | 17 | 90 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 20 |
| 18 | 11 | 01 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 20 |
| 19 | 23 | 4 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 18 |
| 20 | 22 | 93 | Camden Murphy | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 146 | 17 |
| 21 | 16 | 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 146 | 16 |
| 22 | 21 | 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 146 | 15 |
| 23 | 27 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 146 | 14 |
| 24 | 28 | 36 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 144 | 13 |
| 25 | 26 | 35 | Joey Gase | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 144 | 12 |
| 26 | 24 | 15 | Stephen Leicht | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 144 | 11 |
| 27 | 33 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 144 | 10 |
| 28 | 36 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 143 | 9 |
| 29 | 29 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 143 | 8 |
| 30 | 33 | 61 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 133 | 7 |
| 31 | 34 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 128 | 6 |
| 32 | 35 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 114 | 5 |
| 33 | 19 | 86 | Brandon Brown (R) | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 85 | 4 |
| 34 | 25 | 17 | Joe Nemechek (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 72 | 0 |
| 35 | 32 | 13 | Tommy Joe Martins | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 61 | 2 |
| 36 | 30 | 38 | J. J. Yeley | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 34 | 1 |
| 37 | 38 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 27 | 1 |
| 38 | 37 | 18 | Denny Hamlin (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 147 | 0 |

## After the race

Denny Hamlin was disqualified and stripped of his race win when his car failed a pair of height requirements, being deemed too low in the left front and too high in the right rear, ultimately giving the race win to runner-up Cole Custer. This was the first disqualification of an Xfinity Series race winner and the fourth overall disqualification in the Xfinity Series this season since the 2019 rules were established.