A week after one of the worst races in NASCAR Xfinity Series history at Martinsville Speedway, the series took to another famed track on the circuit. Darlington Raceway was celebrating its 75th year of existence, and the future stars in NASCAR were ready to showcase their best at the “Track Too Tough To Tame”. There were plenty of awesome-looking throwback paint schemes. The NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers and some big names from the Cup Series. We’re ready to make some noise for the Sport Clips VFW Help a Hero 200.
A lot was expected with Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Ross Chastain all being among the 38-car field for this race. Those Cup Stars all showed some speed at Darlington. However, they weren’t enough to catch Brandon Jones.
Brandon Jones Bests Cup Stars to Win Xfinity Series Race at Darlington
With plenty of Joe Gibbs Racing speed at the front, including Bell in the No. 19 on pole alongside Jones, it certainly looked like it was going to be a big day for those drivers early.
It's time to dance with The Lady in Black!
We're underway at @TooToughToTame! pic.twitter.com/MZWDZ7qCXe
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 5, 2025
It was clear from the drop of the green, Bell’s No. 19 Toyota was going to be hard to beat. But defending raced winner Justin Allgaier in his No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports quickly started to show some speed. Bell led the races’ first 27 laps before a caution for debris set up a restart and some early pit strategy.
Allgaier quickly gained the lead on the restart and was able to get quite a ways ahead of the rest of the field. While he was doing so, Harrison Burton was booking on some fresh tires in his No. 25 Ford. The scheme was a nice tribute to his dad’s old Citgo scheme from the early 2000s. The pit call was a great choice as Burton flew past everyone and was able to beat Allgaier to win the opening stage.
Fresh tires help you go fast!@HBurtonRacing plays the strategy game to win Stage 1 at @TooToughToTame. pic.twitter.com/FavpeEQuxh
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 5, 2025
Back to Basics in Stage Two
Some heavy three-wide action was the theme of stage two, as Chase Elliott had to race his way back towards the front following a slow pit stop to repair damage. In doing so, he got in a pretty intense battle with Jeb Burton and Connor Zilisch for position. Elliott put on a show as he raced his way back up into the Top 10 as the second stage went green, and Allgaier showed why he is so good at Darlington Raceway, as he led 41 laps in the second stage to pick up another all-important playoff point.
It's all Allgaier in Stage 2!@J_Allgaier takes the green-and-white checkered flag. pic.twitter.com/1wppeZtb9O
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 5, 2025
READ MORE: Late Caution Derails Larson, as Justin Allgaier Wins in South Beach
Chastain Versus Everybody
Things can get crazy late in a race, and that is exactly what happened during the final stage. Amid hard racing, Ross Chastain, who is notorious for getting on other drivers’ nerves, got into it with Elliott during the final segment of the race. The incident wasn’t clear at first during the broadcast. But Elliott showed a little displeasure with Ross after the caution flag came out.
That caution was because Taylor Gray made slight contact with Daniel Dye that sent Gray’s 54 spinning into the inside wall. Two weeks and two wrecks have cost his team greatly.
A look at the contact that led to the incident. pic.twitter.com/gDViM8GmZY
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 5, 2025
It was at this point that it felt like cautions were going to start to stack up. When the drivers returned to green, Chastain found himself in another entanglement with a fellow Cup driver. This time, he and Christopher Bell made pretty significant contact, as they both lost the lead position to Brandon Jones. Darlington Raceway just seems to bring something out of Chastain, but the contact with Bell was pretty heavy.
Contact between @RossChastain and @CBellRacing! pic.twitter.com/XffuuufRqF
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 5, 2025
If that wasn’t enough, a late caution set up a dash to the finish. The 42 of Anthony Alfredo and the No. 70 of Leyland Honeyman wrecked with under 20 to go. That brought all the cars down pit lane to get their last set of tires. While exiting the pits, Bell and Chastain once again made contact.
While all three Cup guys involved in the interactions were able to continue. Bell, unfortunately, ended the day far worse than he hoped. It makes you wonder what the Cup race will be like between Ross and Christopher.
Welcome Back to Victory Lane, Mr. Jones
While they were having their differences, Brandon Jones was doing what he does best at Darlington: taking advantage of the competition. He didn’t have it easy as Chase Elliott made a late charge in his No. 17 Chevy. But it wasn’t enough as Jones was able to get back to victory lane for the first time in three years. That says a lot, given he went to JR Motorsports to the No. 9 car in 2023 and raced it again last year but never got to victory lane.
For the first time since 2022, @BrandonJonesRac is heading back to Victory Lane! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/lSFZZhcTV7
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 5, 2025
He certainly showed determination and a drive to never give up even through his two-plus year struggle. His two seasons with JRM certainly didn’t go his way, but for Jones to get back to victory lane at Darlington was a special moment to see. Not to mention how cool his throwback to Matt Kenseth’s old Dollar General scheme looked sharp.
Welcome back to victory lane, Brandon. You were due for a win.
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