What a pulse-racing showdown under the lights! Aric Almirola, piloting for Joe Gibbs Racing, fended off a fierce late-race assault from JR Motorsports' Connor Zilisch to secure a gripping NASCAR Xfinity Series triumph at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday night. But here's where it gets controversial – with just under 10 laps to go, their cars made contact on the backstretch that might have fans buzzing about racing etiquette. Stick around to see why this clash could spark debates among die-hard fans.
This victory marks Almirola's third win of the season and his tenth overall in the Xfinity Series. By crossing the finish line first, he also locked in the No. 19 team's participation in the Championship 4 battle for the owner's championship at Phoenix Raceway. For beginners in NASCAR lingo, the Championship 4 is the ultimate showdown where four teams compete head-to-head for the season title – think of it as the Super Bowl of stock car racing, where strategy, speed, and a bit of luck decide the champion.
Almirola dominated the Focused Health 302 race, leading an impressive 107 out of 201 laps and ultimately prevailing by a razor-thin margin of 0.696 seconds. Zilisch, who put up a valiant fight, finished right behind, followed by Justin Allgaier, Corey Day, and Nick Sanchez in the top five positions.
RELATED: Unofficial results (https://www.nascar.com/live-results/nascar-xfinity-series/focused-health-302/?section=results) | At-track photos: Las Vegas (https://www.nascar.com/gallery/at-track-photos-2025-las-vegas-motor-speedway-playoff-weekend/)
Rounding out the top 10 were Jesse Love, Ryan Sieg, Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill.
The Xfinity Series gears up for its next event this coming Saturday, October 18, at Talladega Superspeedway for the United Rentals 250 – the second race in the Round of 8 postseason lineup. For those new to the series, the Round of 8 is a thrilling playoff phase where 12 drivers start, but only eight advance, heightening the drama with every bump and pass. Catch the action at 4 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN Radio, or SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
And this is the part most people miss – while Almirola's win is cause for celebration, the contact with Zilisch raises questions about whether it was just hard racing or something that crossed into unsportsmanlike territory. Some might argue it was a legitimate bump-and-run maneuver, a classic racing tactic to gain position, while others could see it as overly aggressive, potentially endangering both drivers. What do you think – was this contact fair play or a line crossed? Share your opinions in the comments below; does this change how you view the sport?
This story will be updated.
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