Noah Gragson wins Stage 1, crashes twice at Texas Motor Speedway

By Summer Bedgood, Handling Editor 

Noah Gragson had high hopes coming into Saturday afternoon’s SRS Distribution 250 at Texas Motor Speedway. The JR Motorsports driver experienced by now gained two races so far in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Collection season and experienced concluded in the best 10 in his final three visits to Texas. 

Gragson competent on the pole posture and led the area to the eco-friendly flag to get started the race. Nevertheless teammate Justin Allgaier was in a position to get by him for a few laps, Gragson took back the major placement and went on to earn Phase 1, his sixth phase gain of the period. 

Most of the guide lap cars pitted right after the caution flag flew to conclusion the phase. The No. 9 staff would reduce a few places on pit street, costing Gragson the direct. He would not return to the direct for the rest of the race, however he was equipped to end in the fifth posture at the stop of Stage 2. 

It was immediately after the commence of the very last phase wherever issues went wrong. 

Leader Josh Berry took the environmentally friendly flag along with Allgaier, but bought sideways in switch 1 soon after the restart and spun out in entrance of the industry. 

Ty Gibbs – who was back again around seventh put — was to Gragson’s within when Berry spun. Gibbs swerved up the observe to prevent generating contact with the No. 48 of Tyler Reddick as Reddick slowed down to avoid Berry. The No. 54 of Gibbs slammed into the side of the No. 9 of Gragson, creating the two motorists to spin out.

All over goes Josh Berry from the entrance as Noah Gragson & Ty Gibbs get a section of it! pic.twitter.com/QSU8kAw3pB

— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) May possibly 21, 2022

Gragson sustained hefty rear-stop harm just after acquiring into the outdoors wall, forcing him to head to pit street for repairs. The No. 9 crew members worked thoroughly on the motor vehicle to make it raceable for Gragson, but the problems proved to be also much to cope with, as Gragson spun out once more just a couple laps just after the restart, sustaining even extra rear end hurt. 

The harm was so serious, Gragson would have to crab-walk his car or truck to the garage spot and retire from the race. He would be credited with a 36th-place complete, his worst result of the 2022 period. 

“I’m fantastic, just self-inflicted there,” stated Gragson although speaking with FS1’s Jamie Small. “We misplaced places on pit highway both equally situations down and you’re in a distinct posture than if you preserve. Overall, really thankful for most people on this Bass Pro Shops team. I guess the only positive is we received a playoff issue with the stage gain but it undoubtedly sucks.” 

Gragson is now 44 details powering leader AJ Allmendinger in the factors standings heading into following week’s Alsco Uniforms 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race will get place on Saturday, May perhaps 28th at 12:00PM ET and will be broadcast stay on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM. 

Image Credit history: Rachel Schuoler