# 2019 U.S. Cellular 250

The 2019 U.S. Cellular 250 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on July 27, 2019, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Contested over 250 laps on the 0.8-mile (1.3 km) D-shaped oval, it was the 19th race of the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

## Background
### Track

Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile (1.4 km) paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately 30 miles (48 km) east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful. It has over 25,000 permanent seats as well as a unique multi-tiered Recreational Vehicle viewing area along the backstretch.

## Entry list

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford |
| 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 01 | Ryan Repko | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Stephen Leicht | 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 | Zane Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 15 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Mark Meunier | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | Riley Herbst (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 |
| 28 | Shane Lee | H2 Motorsports | Toyota |
| 35 | Joey Gase | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 36 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | J. J. Yeley (i) | 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 |
| 66 | Stan Mullis | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 68 | Will Rodgers | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 86 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet |
| 90 | Dillon Bassett | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 93 | Camden Murphy (i) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford |
| 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports (R) | Toyota |

## Practice
### First practice

Christopher Bell was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 24.297 seconds and a speed of 129.646 mph (208.645 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 24.297 | 129.646 |
| 2 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 24.377 | 129.220 |
| 3 | 28 | Shane Lee (R) | H2 Motorsports | Toyota | 24.400 | 129.098 |

### Final practice

Cole Custer was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 24.236 seconds and a speed of 129.972 mph (209.170 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 24.236 | 129.972 |
| 2 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 24.262 | 129.833 |
| 3 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 24.280 | 129.736 |

## Qualifying

Christopher Bell scored the pole for the race with a time of 23.710 seconds and a speed of 132.855 mph (213.809 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 23.710 |
| 2 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 23.742 |
| 3 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 23.785 |
| 4 | 18 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 23.823 |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.859 |
| 6 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 23.865 |
| 7 | 28 | Shane Lee (R) | H2 Motorsports | Toyota | 23.876 |
| 8 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 23.891 |
| 9 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.915 |
| 10 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 23.941 |
| 11 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.945 |
| 12 | 8 | Zane Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.989 |
| 13 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.040 |
| 14 | 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 24.069 |
| 15 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 24.096 |
| 16 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 24.150 |
| 17 | 90 | Dillon Bassett | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 24.183 |
| 18 | 38 | J. J. Yeley (i) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 24.197 |
| 19 | 08 | Gray Gaulding (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 24.215 |
| 20 | 86 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.328 |
| 21 | 68 | Will Rodgers | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.412 |
| 22 | 42 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 24.448 |
| 23 | 15 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.510 |
| 24 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 24.561 |
| 25 | 4 | Stephen Leicht | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.569 |
| 26 | 35 | Joey Gase | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 24.576 |
| 27 | 93 | Camden Murphy (i) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 24.579 |
| 28 | 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 24.580 |
| 29 | 36 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 24.590 |
| 30 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.619 |
| 31 | 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 24.752 |
| 32 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 24.755 |
| 33 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.889 |
| 34 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 24.989 |
| 35 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.216 |
| 36 | 66 | Stan Mullis | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 25.280 |
| 37 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 25.710 |
| 38 | 01 | Ryan Repko | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 0.000 |
| Did not qualify ||||||
| 39 | 17 | Mark Meunier | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 45.262 |

## Race
### Summary

Christopher Bell started on pole and lead for the first 49 laps. The first cautions occurred when Justin Allgaier and Austin Cindric both hit the wall on lap 45. Bell won stage 1 ahead of Cole Custer. On lap 75, Riley Herbst spun and collected Jeremy Clements. Stage 2 was also won by Bell, whose strong lead continued.
In the later half of the race, David Starr and Cole Custer each ended up hitting the wall on separate instances and brought out cautions. With 48 laps to go, Michael Annett brought out a caution after spinning in turn 2. On lap 219, the caution was thrown for fluid on the track. Cleaning trucks were in the entrance of pit road when the drivers began pitting, and Dillon Bassett crashed into the rear of one of the trucks, heavily damaging his car.
In the final moments of the race, Chase Briscoe raced hard with Tyler Reddick and John Hunter Nemechek, eventually leaving them behind while Bell's lead increased. With 5 laps remaining, Briscoe caught up to Bell, driving alongside him before taking the lead due to better cornering. Briscoe was able to hold off Bell to score his first win of the year.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 18 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
Stage Two Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 8 | Zane Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 130
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 2 | 98 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 250 | 57 |
| 2 | 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 250 | 55 |
| 3 | 14 | 23 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 42 |
| 4 | 13 | 9 | Noah Gragson (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 33 |
| 5 | 11 | 2 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 45 |
| 6 | 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 38 |
| 7 | 7 | 28 | Shane Lee | H2 Motorsports | Toyota | 250 | 30 |
| 8 | 15 | 11 | Justin Haley (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 39 |
| 9 | 12 | 8 | Zane Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 30 |
| 10 | 9 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 33 |
| 11 | 24 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 26 |
| 12 | 10 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 28 |
| 13 | 4 | 18 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 250 | 0 |
| 14 | 19 | 08 | Gray Gaulding | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 23 |
| 15 | 29 | 36 | Josh Williams (R) | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 22 |
| 16 | 25 | 4 | Stephen Leicht | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 249 | 21 |
| 17 | 23 | 15 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 249 | 20 |
| 18 | 30 | 5 | Matt Mills (R) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 249 | 19 |
| 19 | 26 | 35 | Joey Gase | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 248 | 18 |
| 20 | 33 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 246 | 17 |
| 21 | 28 | 99 | Stefan Parsons | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 246 | 16 |
| 22 | 35 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 245 | 15 |
| 23 | 36 | 66 | Stan Mullis | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 243 | 14 |
| 24 | 27 | 93 | Camden Murphy (i) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 239 | 0 |
| 25 | 38 | 01 | Ryan Repko | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 237 | 12 |
| 26 | 17 | 90 | Dillon Bassett | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 222 | 11 |
| 27 | 20 | 86 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 217 | 10 |
| 28 | 21 | 68 | Will Rodgers | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 211 | 9 |
| 29 | 6 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 160 | 24 |
| 30 | 16 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 7 |
| 31 | 32 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 6 |
| 32 | 22 | 42 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 113 | 5 |
| 33 | 3 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 105 | 11 |
| 34 | 37 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 87 | 3 |
| 35 | 31 | 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 80 | 2 |
| 36 | 34 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 73 | 1 |
| 37 | 8 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 43 | 1 |
| 38 | 18 | 38 | J. J. Yeley (i) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 5 | 0 |