Las Vegan Noah Gragson snags first NASCAR Xfinity Series win of season

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Noah Gragson held disconnected Harrison Burton successful a two-lap overtime shootout astatine Darlington Raceway connected Saturday for his archetypal NASCAR Xfinity Series triumph of the season.

The Las Vegas operator began his week by extending his woody to thrust the bid for JR Motorsports successful 2022 and capped it with his 3rd vocation triumph — and archetypal ever astatine the way “Too Tough To Tame.”

“This is Darlington, I can’t judge it,” Gragson said.

It looked similar nary one, including Gragson, would beryllium capable to outrun Cup Series prima Denny Hamlin precocious successful the race. But a caution came retired with 10 laps to spell and erstwhile Hamlin went into pit, determination was a tyre already implicit the partition waiting — a nary no successful the NASCAR regularisation publication — and helium was sent to the backmost of the those connected the pb lap.

Gragson had a last situation aft a caution came retired connected the 144th of 147 laps due to the fact that of debris connected the track. He changeable retired successful beforehand successful the precocious lane closest to Darlington’s famed partition arsenic Burton tried to spell low.

Burton pulled alongside Gragson connected some overtime laps, but could not determination successful front.

Burton held connected for 2nd portion Austin Cindric was third. Justin Haley finished 4th followed by Jeb Burton, Justin Allgaier, Cup Series regular Tyler Reddick, Jeremy Clements, Myatt Snider and Alex Labbe making up the apical 10.

Hamlin finished 12th aft starring 43 laps, the astir of immoderate driver. Hamlin, however, gave himself a coagulated preview of the way — and its repaved and repaired crook 2 — for Sunday night’s Southern 500 and the archetypal NASCAR Cup Series playoff race.

Hamlin is seeded seventh successful the 16-man playoff field.

Gragson hadn’t won since Bristol successful June 2020. After a burnout, Gragson and immoderate of his squad members climbed the obstruction astatine Darlington to observe with fans.

“It has been a agelong time,” an excited Gragson said.

There are 2 races remaining astatine Richmond and Bristol earlier the Xfinity’s 12-man playoff begins.