# 2021 Go Bowling 250

The 2021 Go Bowling 250 was the 25th stock car race of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, and the 40th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 11, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia at Richmond Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took 250 laps to complete. For the second straight race, Noah Gragson of JR Motorsports would be able to hold off the field on a late race restart to win the race. To fill out the podium, Justin Haley of Kaulig Racing and John Hunter Nemechek of Sam Hunt Racing would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. would return to racing as a one-off for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

## Background

Richmond Raceway (RR), formerly known as Richmond International Raceway (RIR), is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the IndyCar series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted two USAC sprint car races.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | ForeverLawn Premium Synthetic Grass, 9/11 Memorial Walk "We Will Never Forget." |
| 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Pilot Flying J "If You've Got It A Trucker Brought It" |
| 2 | Myatt Snider | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Superior Essex |
| 02 | Brett Moffitt* | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | Fr8Auctions Patriotic |
| 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Voyager |
| 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | J. F. Electric |
| 6 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Rich Mar Florist |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Brandt Professional Agriculture |
| 07 | Joe Graf Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Bucked Up Energy |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Unilever United For America |
| 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops, Black Rifle Coffee Company |
| 10 | Jeb Burton | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | State Water Heaters |
| 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | LeafFilter Gutter Protection |
| 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | |
| 15 | Colby Howard** | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Hyperice |
| 17 | J. J. Yeley | SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | Thundercat Technology |
| 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Poppy Bank |
| 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Menards, Atlas Designer Shingles |
| 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | DEX Imaging |
| 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | Carshop |
| 23 | Patrick Emerling | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | Spirit Snorkeling, Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway |
| 26 | John Hunter Nemechek | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | Safeway |
| 31 | Josh Berry | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | Bommarito Automotive Group, Solid Rock Carriers |
| 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Prolon Controls |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | CMR Construction & Roofing |
| 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet | Alpha Prime Regimen |
| 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | Big Frig, 12 Hour Auctions |
| 48 | Jade Buford | Big Machine Racing Team | Chevrolet | Big Machine Vodka Spiked Cooler |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 1 Stop Convenience Store |
| 52 | Akinori Ogata | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Kyowa Precision |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Monster Energy |
| 61 | Stephen Leicht | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | Jani-King |
| 66 | David Starr | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | Sharelife Vacations, Helluva Ranch |
| 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | Trade The Chain |
| 74 | C. J. McLaughlin | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | Sci Aps |
| 78 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | Gerber Collision & Glass |
| 90 | Spencer Boyd | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Mini Doge |
| 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Workpro Tools |
| 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Go Bowling |
| 99 | Sam Mayer | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | QPS Employment Group |
| Official entry list |||||
*Driver would change to Ty Dillon due to Moffitt not feeling well.
**Driver changed to Bayley Currey.

## Starting lineup

Qualifying was determined by a qualifying metric system based on the previous race, the 2021 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200. As a result, Austin Cindric of Team Penske would win the pole.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| 1 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 2 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 10 | Jeb Burton | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 2 | Myatt Snider | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford |
| 12 | 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 16 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 17 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 48 | Jade Buford | Big Machine Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 02 | Ty Dillon | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 21 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 23 | Patrick Emerling | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 07 | Joe Graf Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 6 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 26 | John Hunter Nemechek | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota |
| 28 | 15 | Bayley Currey | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 17 | J. J. Yeley | SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 31 | Josh Berry | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 78 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 90 | Spencer Boyd | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 61 | Stephen Leicht | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota |
| 37 | 66 | David Starr | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 38 | 99 | Sam Mayer | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 39 | 74 | C. J. McLaughlin | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 40 | 52 | Akinori Ogata | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet |
| Failed to qualify |||||
| 41 | 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 75
| Fin | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 17 | J. J. Yeley | SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 90 | Spencer Boyd | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 10 | 23 | Patrick Emerling | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 75
| Fin | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 99 | Sam Mayer | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 26 | John Hunter Nemechek | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 0 |
Stage 3 Laps: 100
| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 3 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 22 | running | 50 |
| 2 | 4 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 35 |
| 3 | 27 | 26 | John Hunter Nemechek | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 250 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 4 | 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 33 |
| 5 | 20 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 250 | 0 | running | 35 |
| 6 | 12 | 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 250 | 17 | running | 41 |
| 7 | 15 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 250 | 67 | running | 47 |
| 8 | 17 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 29 |
| 9 | 2 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 250 | 43 | running | 41 |
| 10 | 6 | 10 | Jeb Burton | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 27 |
| 11 | 19 | 02 | Ty Dillon | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 26 |
| 12 | 38 | 99 | Sam Mayer | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 7 | running | 29 |
| 13 | 11 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 250 | 0 | running | 26 |
| 14 | 30 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 23 |
| 15 | 32 | 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 22 |
| 16 | 1 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 250 | 50 | running | 34 |
| 17 | 34 | 78 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 20 |
| 18 | 8 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 39 | running | 38 |
| 19 | 13 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 18 |
| 20 | 16 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 250 | 0 | running | 17 |
| 21 | 21 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 16 |
| 22 | 10 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 15 |
| 23 | 14 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 14 |
| 24 | 33 | 31 | Josh Berry | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 13 |
| 25 | 9 | 2 | Myatt Snider | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 12 |
| 26 | 7 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 11 |
| 27 | 28 | 15 | Bayley Currey | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 28 | 37 | 66 | David Starr | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 249 | 0 | running | 9 |
| 29 | 29 | 17 | J. J. Yeley | SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 248 | 0 | running | 14 |
| 30 | 26 | 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 248 | 0 | running | 7 |
| 31 | 23 | 07 | Joe Graf Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 248 | 0 | running | 6 |
| 32 | 22 | 23 | Patrick Emerling | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 248 | 0 | running | 6 |
| 33 | 35 | 90 | Spencer Boyd | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 248 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 34 | 40 | 52 | Akinori Ogata | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 247 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 35 | 25 | 6 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 246 | 0 | running | 2 |
| 36 | 18 | 48 | Jade Buford | Big Machine Racing Team | Chevrolet | 246 | 0 | running | 1 |
| 37 | 24 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet | 227 | 5 | accident | 10 |
| 38 | 36 | 61 | Stephen Leicht | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 220 | 0 | running | 1 |
| 39 | 31 | 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 179 | 0 | ignition | 1 |
| 40 | 39 | 74 | C. J. McLaughlin | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 111 | 0 | accident | 0 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||||||
| 41 | | 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | | | | |
| Official race results ||||||||||