Nemechek showcased a strong car throughout the race, leading for 137 out of 206 laps. However, he faced multiple competitors during three restarts in the last 40 laps, including the final one during overtime.
A multi-car wreck on lap 197 sent the race into a two-lap overtime with Nemechek in the lead and Custer lined up alongside him on the restart.
Nemechek swiftly moved ahead to take the lead. However, as he began the final lap with the white flag, Custer collided with Sheldon Creed on the frontstretch, resulting in a crash for both drivers. Consequently, Nemechek secured the victory while the caution flag was displayed.
The win is Nemechek’s fourth this season and second consecutive following a victory last weekend at Atlanta. He currently has three consecutive finishes of second or higher.
“I am extremely proud of all the individuals on the No. 20 team at Joe Gibbs Racing. I am sincerely grateful for the chance we have been given,” expressed Nemechek. “It would have been wonderful if Coy Gibbs could have been here to join in the celebration with us. He played a significant role in making this possible for us this year.”
Today, the race track was immaculate. I believe we experienced our inaugural race without any incidents this year. This is truly commendable. I want to express my immense gratitude to all the spectators for their presence. The crowd is absolutely awe-inspiring.
Chandler Smith finished in second place, Austin Hill took third, Daniel Hemric secured fourth, and Sammy Smith, who began the race from the back of the pack, ultimately claimed fifth position.
Completing the top-10 were Justin Allgaier, Jeb Burton, Josh Williams, Brett Moffitt and Mason Massey. Creed ended up 21st and Custer 22nd, both one lap down.
Stage 1
Allgaier claimed the Stage 1 win under caution as he was the leader following a wreck involving Chris Hacker with three of 45 laps remaining. Nemechek was second and Custer third.
Allgaier and Nemechek engaged in a close battle for multiple laps, with some physical interaction, until Allgaier ultimately overtook him for the lead on lap 27.
Stage 2
Sammy Smith passed Parker Retzlaff with one to go and held him off to take the Stage 2 win. Creed was third, Brandon Jones fourth and Williams fifth.
Allgaier, who was making a comeback from the back of the pack due to a penalty on pit road, along with eight other drivers, got caught up in a collision on the frontstretch during a restart on lap 71. Parker Kligerman and Ryan Sieg were forced to retire from the race.
Stage 3
After the pause between Stages 2 and 3, a few cars on the same lap as the leader decided to make a pit stop. However, Sammy Smith chose to stay on the track and maintained the lead as the final stage began.
Nemechek successfully passed Sammy Smith on lap 107 after the restart, reclaiming the lead position. Smith fell to second place, while Creed advanced to third.
Nemechek had established a lead of over 2 seconds ahead of Sammy Smith, with 70 laps remaining, while Creed and Jones were engaged in a competition for third place.
Creed and Sammy Smith were among those who kicked off a final round of green flag pit stops with 52 laps remaining to take on new tires and fuel to make it to the end of the race.
Just before the green-flag pit cycle was finished, Kyle Sieg was hit by Josh Berry, causing him to spin out around Turn 4 and resulting in a caution being called.
After the other cars made their pit stops while caution was in effect, Nemechek took over the lead and continued to lead when the race resumed with 33 laps remaining.
Retzclaff’s crash in Turn 1 towards the end of the race caused a caution period and created an opportunity for a late restart with only four laps remaining, with Nemechek still leading the race.
A multi-car wreck on the restart sent the race into a two-lap overtime with Nemechek in the lead followed by Chandler Smith, Custer, Creed and Hill.
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