DOVER, Del. — Rain tamed the Monster Mile and made Connor Zilisch the winner of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway.

Zilisch claimed his fourth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win after rain cut the race short by 66 laps. He led twice for 77 laps and won the second stage before NASCAR called the race after 134 laps due to rain.

NASCAR called the race at 7 p.m. ET with light rain reported all the way around the track. The race had a predetermined finishing time of 8:10 p.m. ET, making it highly unlikely the race was going to get going again before that time.

TOP-10 FINISHERS (LAP 134): Connor Zilisch, Aric Almirola, Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, Ryan Sieg, Taylor Gray, Sheldon Creed, William Sawalich, Christian Eckes.

No cautions for cause fell in the bulk of the race Saturday until the caution for rain ultimately ended the race.

Jake Finch and Lavar Scott finished 17th and 28th, respectively, each on the lead lap for the NASCAR Xfinity Series debut.

Nick Sanchez and Ross Chastain finished 37th and 38th after having mechanical issues in the final stage.

Justin Allgaier leads Connor Zilisch in the points by 56. Here is what the playoff cutline looks like after Dover:

• Sam Mayer +162 to the playoff cutline
• Carson Kvapil +86
• Sheldon Creed +61
• Taylor Gray +36
• Jeb Burton +7
• Harrison Burton -7
• Ryan Sieg -30
• Dean Thompson -62
• Christian Eckes -71

DOVER STAGE ONE WINNER: Taylor Gray

Early on, Nick Sanchez, Connor Zilisch and Ross Chastain had nothing for Taylor Gray from second, third and sixth, as Gray jumped to the lead from the pole. His three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates filled positions four through five and seventh. Brandon Jones and Aric Almirola soon jumped ahead of Sanchez and Zilisch, making it a JGR 1-2-3 as they raced through lap traffic.

Further back, Zilisch and Chastain’s JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier went from the rear of the 38-car field to seventh in the stage.

Still, JRM couldn’t beat JGR in the stage and Almirola couldn’t beat his JGR teammate. Almirola closed to Gray’s bumper but Gray went flag-to-flag in the first stage for his second career Xfinity stage win.

STAGE ONE TOP-10 (LAP 45): Taylor Gray, Aric Almirola, Brandon Jones, Connor Zilisch, Ross Chastain, Nick Sanchez, Justin Allgaier, William Sawalich, Jesse Love, Sheldon Creed.

Creed edged Ryan Sieg for 10th before the stage caution that saw Josh Williams get the free pass from 32nd.

Under caution, Taylor Gray had a 23.3-second pit stop that dropped him from the lead to 15th.

“The [tire] changer had to chase the car a long way so the hose got underneath the car and when the jack dropped, the hose was stuck underneath it,” Gray was told on the radio.

Meanwhile, teammate Brandon Jones beat Zilisch, Almirola, Allgaier, Sawalich, Love, Chastain, Creed, Sanchez and Ryan Sieg off of pit road.

DOVER STAGE TWO WINNER: Connor Zilisch

Connor Zilisch took the lead in the first stage while Jones dropped to third behind Almirola and ahead of Allgaier and Sieg who showed strong long-run speed.

On the long run in the second stage, no one had anything for Zilisch. He won the stage by over a second, continuing a strong seven-race stretch that has seen him accrue an average finish of 2.43.

STAGE TWO TOP-10 (LAP 90): Zilisch, Almirola, Jones, Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, Chastain, Love, Creed, Sawalich, Austin Hill.

The free pass went to Lavar Scott who made his series debut Saturday at Dover with Alpha Prime Racing.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DOVER FINAL STAGE

Saturday marked the 13th stage-era NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover — and the third to not have a caution for cause. The others, in fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, had two cautions and three cautions respectively in the final stage.

The final stage Saturday fit the occasion of chaos. Kyle Sieg stayed out and led but dropped quickly. Then, Nick Sanchez and Ross Chastain had issues that took them out of the top 10 and to the garage in 37th and 38th — second-to-last and last. Sanchez had steering issues while Chastain had driveshaft issues.

Connor Zilisch picked up where he left off, showing why his ARCA Menards Series East win in 2024 wasn’t a fluke and how he isn’t just a road course ace. Zilisch took the lead by over a second until a caution for rain on lap 132.

NEXT: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 26

Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.

A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.

Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick’s final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen’s stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers’ stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.

Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com

The NASCAR Cup Series will return to Dover International Speedway this weekend. The trip to Delaware is a welcome one for many drivers, after Shane van Gisbergen kicked some ass at a couple road courses over the past two weeks.

There’s a bevy of wheelmen hoping a return to NASCAR’s more traditional track type lands them in Victory Lane. The crew over at Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour has locked in its predictions for which drivers they believe will thrive in Delaware.

First, Kevin Harvick is a believer in Kyle Larson getting the job done: “He was fast last year,” the former champion stated. “I like the speed, I like that you have to drive the crap out of it and I think they know that they have to get their stuff together.”

At Sonoma, Larson returned to his home state, hoping for a repeat of 2024 and another trip to Victory Lane. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. His attempt at winning the second stage didn’t work out, and the Hendrick Motorsports wheelman finished P35 when the checkered flag waved.

Harvick’s prediction has some legs, as Larson won at Dover back in 2019. He’s also come close multiple other times, including last season’s runner-up finish to Denny Hamlin. He’ll be motivated to get back to Victory Lane after some struggles over the past couple of weeks.

Alas, it’s easy to see why Harvick is riding with Larson, but his co-host in Kaitlyn Vincie is looking at a different former champion to get the job done: “Someone I’d say is in a similar situation (as Larson) is Joey Logano,” she added. “I’m going with driver No. 22 for the Dover win.”

It’s been a struggle for Logano, as he doesn’t always show off his best stuff on road courses. However, he was solid throughout the afternoon at Sonoma, finishing P9. He’ll take that for sure, as NASCAR returns to some ovals. 

Moving to Dover, this will be Logano’s 29th time racing at the track. He’s never won, though, so Vincie’s prediction is a little bold. His best finish came in third, which he’s done three times. Maybe this will be his best performance in Delaware yet.

Who else could win at Dover? Mamba Smith’s prediction might surprise you

Finally, Mamba Smith went a bit off the grid, believing Bubba Wallace can end his winless streak in Delaware: “I’m just going to send it. I said it earlier, he needs it and this is one of his best race tracks. We’re going with Bubba Wallace,” he proclaimed. “Send it in.”

Wallace certainly needs the win in the worst way. He’s only three points above the cut-line for the playoffs, but as we’ve seen in the past, it doesn’t take much for that to evaporate. If he doesn’t get back to Victory Lane, he’s in grave danger of missing the playoffs once again.

All told, there’s a myriad of wheelmen who could get to Victory Lane at Dover, and it’s a bit of a surprise no one is riding with last season’s winner at the track in Denny Hamlin. Regardless, the crew over at Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour has made its picks, and we’ll see if it comes to fruition for them this time around.

Denny Hamlin didn’t have much to say about the latest in the battle between 23XI Racing and NASCAR Saturday at Dover Motor Speedway, but what he did say was loud and clear.

“I don’t have any direct comment on that,” Hamlin said in reference to Tyler Reddick potentially leaving 23XI Racing. “All I can tell you, and it’ll be my blanket answer for all questions about this, is that if you want answers, if you want to understand why this is all happening, come Dec. 1 you’ll get the answers that you’re looking for and all will be exposed.”

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed a joint antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR in October. The latest development in the litigation occurred earlier this week, when the preliminary injunction that allowed the two organizations to compete as charter teams expired following a June ruling from a three-judge panel that vacated the order.

The six combined teams from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are running as Open teams at Dover Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Open teams are not guaranteed starting positions and receive significantly less prize money.

Fortunately, there is no danger of 23XI Racing and Front Row missing either race at Dover or Indianapolis as there are fewer than 40 teams entered. However, a new preliminary injunction has been filed by the two organizations in the hopes of regaining their charter status for the remainder of the season.

A decision has not been made on that request.

In the meantime, the teams were denied a new restraining order that would keep NASCAR from taking and selling the charters. NASCAR told the court that the charters would not be sold until the preliminary injunction is ruled on.

Reddick, who drives the No. 45 Toyota and won the 2024 regular season championship, making the Championship 4 with 23XI Racing, has a clause in his contract stating that 23XI Racing must field him in a chartered car. The clause came to light in December when 23XI Racing filed for the initial preliminary injunction.

“Everything related to the litigation, I don’t have a comment at this time,” Reddick said Saturday. “Thank you.”

Hamlin was also asked if there is anything that has happened so far in the lawsuit process that has had him second-guessing the decision to proceed.

“Not a chance,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of 23XI Racing having to race as Open teams the remainder of the year, Hamlin said, “Dec. 1 is all that matters. Mark your calendar.”

23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin reaffirmed his commitment Saturday to the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR even as all three of his cars will run without charter status this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway.

A U.S. District Court judge denied a request by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports for a temporary restraining order Thursday. That order would have allowed the two organizations to compete with the status of chartered teams despite not signing the charter agreement last year.

The U.S. District Court judge did not rule on the request by both teams for a preliminary injunction on the same matter.

District court judge rules against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in request for temporary restraining order to run as chartered teams.

This is only a part of the antitrust lawsuit the two teams filed last October against NASCAR and NASCAR CEO Jim France. The case is scheduled for trial Dec. 1.

Asked about the ramifications of 23XI Racing competing as an open team this weekend, Hamlin told reporters Saturday at Dover:

“This would just be my blanket answer for all questions about this. If you want answers, you want to understand why this is all happening, come Dec. 1. You’ll get the answers that you’re looking for and all will be exposed.”

Later asked if anything has caused him to second guess the lawsuit, Hamlin told reporters: “Not a chance.”

Asked if 23XI Racing has had to do anything different as an open team, Hamlin cited the trial date in his response, saying: “Dec. 1 is all that matters. Mark your calendar.”

NASCAR leaves open the option of the event returning in 2027.

23IX Racing employs Cup drivers Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst. Front Row Motorsports employs Cup drivers Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith and Noah Gragson.

Reddick told reporters Saturday: “Everything related to the litigation, charters, I don’t have a comment for at the time.”

Last year when 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports sought a preliminary injunction that would allow them to operate with charter status, Reddick’s contract was cited in that he had to be aligned with a team with a charter. In its request this past week for the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports raised the issue of driver contracts and sponsor contracts being impacted if they did not have the charter status.

Alex Bowman has four consecutive top-10 finishes at Dover, including a victory.

While denying the temporary restraining order this week, Judge Kenneth D. Bell wrote: “Finally, Plaintiffs say they face the threat of the irreparable loss of drivers and sponsor relationships and opportunities.

“With respect to drivers, the record stands in a different posture than it did prior to the season when the Court entered the earlier injunction.

“While Plaintiffs’ drivers could have realistically terminated their contracts with Plaintiffs and/or been lured away by other teams, that prospect (although theoretically still conceivable) appears unlikely at this late stage of the season, and Plaintiffs have not offered evidence that any drivers are intending to do so in the next two weeks. Moreover, Plaintiffs have not established an imminent loss of sponsorships before the Preliminary Injunction can be decided.”

Mooresville, NC (July 18, 2025) – Granite State De-Icing Supply has increased their sponsorship with Spencer Boyd from an associate level to the Primary sponsor for the 76 truck at the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2025.

This will make it the first time Granite State De-Icing Supply’s logo has been on the hood of a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series truck.

Granite State De-Icing Supply provides New England and beyond all the equipment, materials and education needed to implement a liquids program to snow service operations.

Spencer Boyd, Driver and Co-Owner of Freedom Racing Enterprises, commented, “When I wear the owner hat, I am honored when an associate sponsor steps up to the primary level. It shows we are delivering what we promised from our marketing program.

“When I wear the driver helmet, I get pumped to rep a new paint scheme on the track. We’ve got a sick one here going to New Hampshire.”

With over 35 years of experience in the snow industry, the team at Granite State De-Icing Supply offers expert advice, personalized service, and ongoing support and education to ensure complete satisfaction.

President of Granite State De-Icing Supply, Shawn O’Keefe offered this in response to the announcement, “I love supporting race car drivers. It is a passion of mine and I believe in its worth as a marketing platform.

“Spencer has been a great partner for our business as he’s always looking to network in addition to all that social media he does. We’re super excited to have the (NASCAR CRAFTSMAN) Truck Series come to New Hampshire this year as we are based in Merrimack, NH and can promote right here in our backyard.”

Fans will be able to see the No. 76 Granite State De-Icing Supply Chevrolet Silverado on track and prior to the race as it will be on display at the Royal Plaza Trade Center on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, for the NE Public Works Expo in Marlborough, MA.

Boyd will be in attendance as well to sign autographs and chat with fans.

In addition to this great activation, Granite State De-Icing Supply will be hosting some giveaways for fans via their social media channels. 

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is set for Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 12:00 pm ET. Catch the action in person with tickets still available or on TV live on FS1.

Source: Freedom Racing Enterprises

Rain would not let up at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon, forcing NASCAR to cancel Cup Series practice and qualifying at the tricky concrete oval. Along with the usual unknowns going into a race weekend, teams also have a new and untested Goodyear tire for this race.

As a result of qualifying being cancelled, the field will be set by the metric — an average made up of 15% of a fastest lap time from the previous week, 25% of the driver’s finishing position, 25% of the owner’s final race finishing position, and 35% of the owner’s points position.

After that somewhat confusing math is sorted out, Chase Elliott ends up on pole position for Dover. The Hendrick Motorsports driver will share the front row with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe. Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and William Byron will round out the top five.

Shane van Gisbergen, who won last week at Sonoma, will start sixth. He didn’t sound too thrilled about that in an interview during the rain delay, as he would much rather get some practice time and start deeper in the pack. While a superstar on road courses, SVG still has a steep learning curve at ovals.

Michael McDowell will start seventh, Joey Logano eighth, Ty Gibbs ninth, and Kyle Busch tenth. 

Some notable names deeper in the field include defending winner Denny Hamlin in 13th, Ross Chastain 19th, Kyle Larson 25th, and Ryan Blaney 31st.