# 2024 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225

The 2024 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 was the 19th stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 30th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania at Pocono Raceway, a 2.0 miles (3.2 km) permanent triangular-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 90 laps to complete. In an action packed race, Cole Custer driving for Stewart–Haas Racing, would come out on top, earning his 14th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory and Fords first win of the season. To fill out the podium, Justin Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, and William Byron, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

## Report

Pocono Raceway is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) oval speedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1970s. Nicknamed "The Tricky Triangle", the speedway has three distinct corners and is known for high speeds along its lengthy straightaways.
From 1982 to 2019, the circuit had two race weekends. In 2020, the circuit was reduced to one race meeting of two races. The first race was moved to World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis starting in 2022.

### 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 | Haas Automation |
| 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | RTIC Outdoors |
| 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Whelen |
| 4 | Thomas Annunziata | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | |
| 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | Botticelli/Shop Rite |
| 07 | Patrick Emerling | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Camelback Resort |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Carolina Carports |
| 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Pilot Flying J |
| 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cheez-It / Menards |
| 10 | Daniel Dye (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Champion Containers |
| 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Alloy Employer Services |
| 14 | Mason Massey (i) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Real American Beer |
| 15 | Josh Berry (i) | AM Racing | Ford | VIVA Tequila Seltzer |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Celsius |
| 17 | William Byron (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | HendrickCars.com |
| 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Friends of Jaclyn Foundation |
| 19 | Taylor Gray (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Operation 300 |
| 20 | Ryan Truex | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Toyota Certified Collision Center |
| 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Global Industries |
| 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | Lehigh Valley Phantoms |
| 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | Blackhawk H-60 |
| 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | US Hydrations |
| 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | AutoParkIt.com |
| 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 35 | Stephen Mallozzi (i) | Joey Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | |
| 38 | Matt DiBenedetto | RSS Racing | Ford | Rema |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | SciAps |
| 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | Randco Industries |
| 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Sweetwater Construction Corp |
| 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Members 1st |
| 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | Big Machine Spiked Light Coolers |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | Spartan Waste/Fox Sports 98.3 |
| 74 | Dawson Cram (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Smith General Contracting |
| 91 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Drive Smart Warranty |
| 92 | Josh Bilicki | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | WeatherTech |
| 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | Monster Energy |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

The first and only practice session was held on Saturday, July 13, at 10:00 AM ET, and would last for 20 minutes. Ryan Sieg, driving for RSS Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.752, and a speed of 164.408 mph (264.589 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 54.752 | 164.408 |
| 2 | 17 | William Byron (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.964 | 163.744 |
| 3 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.973 | 163.717 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, July 13, at 10:30 AM ET. Standard intermediate track qualifying was in effect, although at Pocono and Indianapolis, a hybrid road course qualifying rule was used. The timing line was set in the North Straight, exiting Turn 2, where cars exited pit road, drove two-thirds of a lap, then took the green flag at the timing line exiting Turn 2, and completing their lap there the next time by. Teams then immediately pitted the car, meaning only two laps were run. In addition, up to three cars could be at the track at one time, separated by considerable intervals (about 20 seconds) to ensure drafting was prohibited.
Sheldon Creed, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 53.810, and a speed of 167.255 mph (269.171 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 53.810 | 167.255 |
| 2 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.108 | 166.334 |
| 3 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.159 | 166.177 |
| 4 | 19 | Taylor Gray (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 54.180 | 166.113 |
| 5 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 54.305 | 165.731 |
| 6 | 17 | William Byron (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.331 | 165.651 |
| 7 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 54.362 | 165.557 |
| 8 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 54.377 | 165.511 |
| 9 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.380 | 165.502 |
| 10 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 54.457 | 165.268 |
| 11 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.532 | 165.041 |
| 11 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.556 | 164.968 |
| 12 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 54.704 | 164.522 |
| 13 | 15 | Josh Berry (i) | AM Racing | Ford | 54.749 | 164.387 |
| 14 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 54.838 | 164.120 |
| 15 | 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.839 | 164.117 |
| 16 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 54.856 | 164.066 |
| 17 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 54.881 | 163.991 |
| 19 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.892 | 163.958 |
| 20 | 10 | Daniel Dye (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 54.908 | 163.911 |
| 21 | 91 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 55.007 | 163.616 |
| 22 | 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 55.124 | 163.268 |
| 23 | 38 | Matt DiBenedetto | RSS Racing | Ford | 55.138 | 163.227 |
| 24 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 55.231 | 162.952 |
| 25 | 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 55.290 | 162.778 |
| 26 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 55.460 | 162.279 |
| 27 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 55.574 | 161.946 |
| 28 | 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 55.713 | 161.542 |
| 29 | 92 | Josh Bilicki | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 55.793 | 161.311 |
| 30 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 55.902 | 160.996 |
| 31 | 14 | Mason Massey (i) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 55.911 | 160.970 |
| 32 | 07 | Patrick Emerling | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 55.944 | 160.875 |
| 33 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 55.954 | 160.846 |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||
| 34 | 20 | Ryan Truex | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 56.011 | 160.683 |
| 35 | 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | 56.483 | 159.340 |
| 36 | 74 | Dawson Cram (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 56.569 | 159.098 |
| 36 | 4 | Thomas Annunziata | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.885 | 158.214 |
| 37 | 35 | Stephen Mallozzi (i) | Joey Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 58.550 | 153.715 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 20
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 17 | William Byron (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 5 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 20
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 52
| Pos. | St. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 8 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 90 | 25 | Running | 59 |
| 2 | 3 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 30 | Running | 46 |
| 3 | 4 | 17 | William Byron (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 16 | Running | 0 |
| 4 | 1 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 90 | 7 | Running | 38 |
| 5 | 4 | 19 | Taylor Gray (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 90 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 6 | 10 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 42 |
| 7 | 11 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 1 | Running | 43 |
| 8 | 14 | 48 | Parker Kilgerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 29 |
| 9 | 9 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 33 |
| 10 | 11 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 27 |
| 11 | 17 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | Running | 37 |
| 12 | 7 | 39 | Ryan Seig | RSS Racing | Ford | 90 | 4 | Running | 34 |
| 13 | 2 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 24 |
| 14 | 15 | 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 23 |
| 15 | 5 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 90 | 0 | Running | 39 |
| 16 | 25 | 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 90 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 17 | 20 | 10 | Daniel Dye (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 18 | 22 | 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 19 |
| 19 | 34 | 20 | Ryan Truex | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 90 | 0 | Running | 18 |
| 20 | 33 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | Running | 17 |
| 21 | 16 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 16 |
| 22 | 19 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 7 | Running | 15 |
| 23 | 21 | 91 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 14 |
| 24 | 23 | 38 | Matt DiBenedetto | RSS Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | Running | 13 |
| 25 | 28 | 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 12 |
| 26 | 27 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 11 |
| 27 | 13 | 15 | Josh Berry (i) | AM Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 28 | 36 | 4 | Thomas Annunziata | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 9 |
| 29 | 31 | 14 | Mason Massey (i) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 30 | 24 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 7 |
| 31 | 26 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 6 |
| 32 | 12 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jorden Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 89 | 0 | Running | 5 |
| 33 | 32 | 07 | Patrick Emerling | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 89 | 0 | Running | 4 |
| 34 | 35 | 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | 72 | 0 | Suspension | 3 |
| 35 | 37 | 35 | Stephen Mallozzi (i) | Joey Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 68 | 0 | Engine | 0 |
| 36 | 30 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 47 | 0 | Accident | 1 |
| 37 | 29 | 92 | Josh Bilicki | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 8 | 0 | Electrical | 1 |
| 38 | 34 | 74 | Dawson Cram (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 1 | 0 | Accident | 0 |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Cole Custer | 716 |
| | 2 | Justin Allgaier | 665 (-51) |
| | 3 | Chandler Smith | 657 (–59) |
| | 4 | Austin Hill | 640 (–76) |
| 2 | 5 | A. J. Allmendinger | 564 (–154) |
| 1 | 6 | Jesse Love | 563 (–153) |
| 2 | 7 | Riley Herbst | 560 (–156) |
| | 8 | Sheldon Creed | 543 (–173) |
| | 9 | Parker Kligerman | 524 (–192) |
| | 10 | Sam Mayer | 501 (–215) |
| 1 | 11 | Sammy Smith | 488 (–228) |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Sieg | 466 (–250) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 597 |
| 2 | Toyota | 574 (-23) |
| 3 | Ford | 504 (–93) |