# 2024 Focused Health 250 (Atlanta)

The 2024 Focused Health 250 was the 24th stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 4th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent quad-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 163 laps to complete. Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would take advantage of a late-race restart, and held off the Parker Kligerman earn his 9th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, his fourth of the season, and sweeping Atlanta, with a win in the spring. A. J. Allmendinger dominated most of the race, leading a race-high 40 laps. To fill out the podium, Kilgerman, driving for Big Machine Racing, and Allmendinger, driving for Kaulig Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

## Report
### Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | Autodesk /Haas Automation |
| 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | High Rock Vodka |
| 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Samsara |
| 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | Beyond Type 1 |
| 07 | C. J. McLaughlin | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Main Street Auto |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hellmann's |
| 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Pilot Flying J |
| 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Jeld-Wen / Menards |
| 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Alloy Employer Services |
| 14 | David Starr | SS-Green Light Racing | Ford | Saniserv / Byron Superstore |
| 15 | Lawless Alan (i) | AM Racing | Ford | Deal Badger |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Campers Inn RV |
| 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | CW Sports |
| 19 | Taylor Gray (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Operation 300 |
| 20 | Ryan Truex | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | The Toyota Gazoo Racing |
| 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Bennett Transportation |
| 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | Toyota Racing Development |
| 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | NORMA Precision Ammunition |
| 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | North Country Ford |
| 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | Pritchard Injury Firm |
| 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | FUNKAWAY |
| 35 | Mason Maggio (i) | Joey Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | |
| 38 | Matt DiBenedetto | RSS Racing | Ford | Recycled Materials Association |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | Sci Aps |
| 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | Randco Industries |
| 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Pella Windows and Doors |
| 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Hackett Truck Sales |
| 45 | Garrett Smithley | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Vet the Vote |
| 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | Big Machine Spiked Coolers |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | Fly and Form Structures |
| 53 | Morgen Baird | Joey Gase Motorsports | Ford | Alro Steel |
| 74 | Dawson Cram (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | Mike Harmon Racing |
| 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Wheelers |
| 91 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Brand South Africa |
| 92 | Nick Leitz | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Precision Measurements Inc. |
| 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | WeatherTech |
| 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | Monster Energy |
| Official entry list |||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, September 7, at 11:00 AM EST. Since Atlanta Motor Speedway is an intermediate racetrack with superspeedway rules, the qualifying system used is a single-car, single-lap system with two rounds. In the first round, drivers have one lap to set a time. The fastest ten drivers from the first round move on to the second round. Whoever sets the fastest time in Round 2 wins the pole.
Jesse Love, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would score the pole for the race with a time of 31.927, and a speed of 173.646 mph (279.456 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 |
| 1 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 32.028 | 31.927 |
| 2 | 19 | Taylor Gray (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 32.094 | 31.956 |
| 3 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 32.101 | 31.966 |
| 4 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 32.198 | 32.045 |
| 5 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 32.204 | 32.048 |
| 9 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 32.118 | 32.057 |
| 6 | 20 | Ryan Truex (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 32.150 | 32.065 |
| 7 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 32.207 | 32.086 |
| 8 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 32.133 | 32.098 |
| 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.194 | 32.108 |
| 11 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.259 | — |
| 12 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 32.289 | — |
| 13 | 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 32.301 | — |
| 14 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 32.309 | — |
| 15 | 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.334 | — |
| 16 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 32.348 | — |
| 17 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 32.386 | — |
| 18 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.407 | — |
| 19 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.448 | — |
| 20 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 32.515 | — |
| 21 | 26 | Corey Heim | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 32.532 | — |
| 22 | 15 | Lawless Alan (i) | AM Racing | Ford | 32.583 | — |
| 23 | 07 | C. J. McLaughlin | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 32.610 | — |
| 24 | 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | 32.634 | — |
| 25 | 92 | Nick Leitz | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 32.678 | — |
| 26 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 32.748 | — |
| 27 | 35 | Mason Maggio (i) | Joey Gase Motorsports | Ford | 32.826 | — |
| 28 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 32.830 | — |
| 29 | 38 | Matt DiBenedetto | RSS Racing | Ford | 32.971 | — |
| 30 | 45 | Garrett Smithley | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 33.088 | — |
| 31 | 74 | Dawson Cram (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 33.097 | — |
| 32 | 53 | Morgen Baird | Joey Gase Motorsports | Toyota | 33.194 | — |
| 33 | 14 | David Starr | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 33.218 | — |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||
| 34 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 33.300 | — |
| 35 | 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.372 | — |
| 36 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 33.385 | — |
| 37 | 91 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 0 | — |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 40
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 19 | Taylor Gray (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
Stage 2 Laps: 40
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 10 | 19 | Taylor Gray (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 8 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 89
| Pos. | St. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 4 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 12 | Running | 50 |
| 2 | 16 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 35 |
| 3 | 6 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 40 | Running | 44 |
| 4 | 8 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 163 | 28 | Running | 38 |
| 5 | 21 | 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 163 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 23 | Running | 42 |
| 7 | 19 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 39 |
| 8 | 13 | 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 29 |
| 9 | 18 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 32 |
| 10 | 7 | 20 | Ryan Truex | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 163 | 0 | Running | 27 |
| 11 | 37 | 29 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 26 |
| 12 | 17 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jorden Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 25 |
| 13 | 22 | 15 | Lawless Alan (i) | AM Racing | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 14 | 15 | 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 23 |
| 15 | 26 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 22 |
| 16 | 28 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 17 | 35 | 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 1 | Running | 20 |
| 18 | 27 | 35 | Mason Maggio (i) | Joey Gase Motorsports | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 19 | 24 | 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 18 |
| 20 | 25 | 92 | Nick Leitz | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 17 |
| 21 | 34 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 16 |
| 22 | 33 | 14 | David Starr | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 15 |
| 23 | 30 | 45 | Garrett Smithley | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 14 |
| 24 | 20 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jorden Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 162 | 0 | Running | 13 |
| 25 | 5 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 160 | 1 | Running | 19 |
| 26 | 9 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 158 | 0 | Running | 26 |
| 27 | 12 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 157 | 0 | Running | 12 |
| 28 | 2 | 19 | Taylor Gray (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 154 | 12 | Suspension | 0 |
| 29 | 36 | 51 | Jermey Clements | Jermey Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 149 | 0 | Suspension | 8 |
| 30 | 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 146 | 19 | Accident | 23 |
| 31 | 3 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 144 | 0 | Accident | 17 |
| 32 | 14 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 144 | 0 | Accident | 5 |
| 33 | 32 | 53 | Morgan Baird | Joey Gase Motorsports | Ford | 142 | 0 | Running | 4 |
| 34 | 23 | 07 | C. J. McLaughlin | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 112 | 0 | Engine | 3 |
| 35 | 28 | 38 | Matt DiBenedetto | RSS Racing | Ford | 80 | 0 | Oil Line | 2 |
| 36 | 11 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 77 | 0 | Accident | 6 |
| 37 | 31 | 74 | Dawson Cram (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 18 | 0 | Mechanical | 0 |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Justin Allgaier | 866 |
| | 2 | Cole Custer | 832 (-34) |
| | 3 | Chandler Smith | 799 (–67) |
| | 4 | Austin Hill | 795 (–71) |
| 1 | 5 | A. J. Allmendinger | 744 (–122) |
| 1 | 6 | Sheldon Creed | 723 (–143) |
| | 7 | Riley Herbst | 693 (–173) |
| | 8 | Jesse Love | 683 (–173) |
| | 9 | Parker Kligerman | 674 (–193) |
| | 10 | Sammy Smith | 644 (–222) |
| | 11 | Ryan Sieg | 600 (–266) |
| | 12 | Shane van Gisbergen | 574 (–292) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 892 |
| 2 | Toyota | 856 (-36) |
| 3 | Ford | 767 (–125) |