The NASCAR Xfinity Series certainly got a taste of what’s to come at the end of the 2025 season. The series took to the track at Phoenix Raceway with plenty of expectations. Drivers and teams were looking to build their notebook for the return in the fall. There will be plenty of things that some drivers won’t want to repeat, from a a brain fart by Austin Hill, to defending Series Champion Justin Allgaier once again not catching a break. The GOVX 200 had plenty of drama.
This race was a fight between Joe Gibbs and Hendrick/ JR Motorsports power. That shouldn’t come as much as a surprise in this series.
Aric Almirola Wins Xfinity Series Race at Phoenix in Overtime
Alex Bowman was among the entries. He piloted his No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to the pole position at his home track. Bowman played a major role from the drop of the green flag, as he checked out on the rest of the field during the opening stage, leading the first 48 laps and winning the stage.
Things got exciting during the second stage as the restarts started to get very busy, much like they always do at Phoenix Raceway. After a caution flew for Anthony Alfredo for being stopped on the pit lane on lap 57, the field returned to green. That green didn’t stay out for long, as the restart got hairy. Austin Hill was following the No. 8 of Sammy Smith deep into the corner, coming to the dogleg, when he made contact with the inside wall, and it sent him shooting up into Sheldon Creed’s No.00 Ford.
😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/14HguLIVKk
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 8, 2025
The wreck was certainly not something seen before at Phoenix. The incident also knocked Dean Thompson out of the race. When asked about what happened, Hill admitted to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass that he couldn’t see ahead of him and misjudged the wall.
” That might be one of the dumbest things that’s ever happened to me in my career,” Hill said.
Austin Hill on the bizarre wreck where he ran into the inside wall: "That might be one of the dumbest things that's ever happened to me in my career." pic.twitter.com/N4gBQLtGPu
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 8, 2025
Allgaier Comes Up Short Again
Following the major wreck, the race went fairly smoothly as Justin Allgaier started to show his strength. He was able to get his No. 7 Chevy out front and fought on and on with Aric Almirola for the rest of stage two. Allgaier was able to capture the stage two win. Which led to plenty of long runs during the final stage.
He's pretty good here. 😏@J_Allgaier wins Stage 2 of the #GOVX200! pic.twitter.com/ztQGdnSzyJ
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 8, 2025
A caution with about 50 to go to set up what felt like was going to be the final pitstop. Which is what it ultimately was. But it wasn’t the last caution. Allgaier was able to check out away from Bowman and Almirola in the final 50-lap run. But a big charge from Almirola got him within a second with only a handful of laps remaining. That’s when Justin once again saw a surefire win wiped away for the second-straight year.
After crashing with five laps left in 2024, this time an incident by the #07 car brought out a caution with less than four laps, sending the race to overtime.
This changes everything!
The yellow flag is out! We are headed to #NASCAROvertime! pic.twitter.com/d8yw3Wn1xy
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 9, 2025
Photo Finish Goes to Almirola
Allgaier held the lead for the restart, but he quickly lost his shot. Bowman charged to the lead after a great restart. But Almirola was right with him. Bowman was able to lead at the white flag. But as the pair got back around to the dog leg, Almirola got back to gas and was able to slide up, kind of forcing Bowman into the wall, as the pair crossed the finish line side-by-side, with Aric Almirola taking the win. It also marked the eighth win of Almirola’s Xfinity Series career.
OFFICIAL: The margin of victory was 0.045 seconds.
This is the second-closest #XfinitySeries finish at @phoenixraceway. pic.twitter.com/jN4VeOqqyA
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 9, 2025
It was certainly a photo finish as Almirola won by 0.045 seconds. Was it a dirty move, maybe not, but Bowman certainly thought a little different as he finished second, with a destroyed race car.
It wasn’t the greatest of moves in my opinion but that’s racing I suppose. It appears this could be the new Phoenix, which should make the Xfinity Series Championship race exciting in November.
