Aric Almirola Wins NASCAR Xfinity Opener

Aric Almirola secured his second victory of the season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff opener at Kansas Speedway, finishing ahead of Cole Custer and Chandler Smith. Almirola, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, capitalized on a late-race pass with just three laps remaining to clinch the win, marking his sixth career Xfinity victory. Custer achieved his first top-10 finish at Kansas by placing second, while Smith, who led the most laps, finished third. Regular-season champion Justin Allgaier faced significant challenges, wrecking on Lap 70 and ultimately finishing 36th, jeopardizing his playoff chances. Despite his struggles, Allgaier remains optimistic, noting the importance of his previous points accrued. This victory also secured the No. 20 team's position in the next round of the owner's championship.