Returning Veteran Wins at Iowa

Iowa Speedway, the home of the Nascar Xfinity Series on Sunday afternoon with Erik Jones on the pole. But there were some problems before the race started, this involved Brendan Gaughan, and Elliott Sadler sent to the rear for unapproved adjustments. There were more penalties for unapproved body modification. The pole sitter Jones and Brad Keselowski, was sent to the rear from the penalty mentioned above. As well as Ross Chastain sent to the rear with unapproved adjustments. There was going to be, a competition caution on lap 40 due to overnight track repairs. Sam Hornish Jr, and Daniel Suarez moved into the front row to take the green flag.

Suarez got the advantage in turn 3 and leads on lap 1. Erik Jones gaining ground early as he moved to the 22^nd spot on lap 4. The no.40 of Carl Long, went to the garage early on lap 11. Darrell Wallace. Jr, moved into the 7^th position on lap 14. 2^nd place Sam Hornish Jr, started to reel in race leader Daniel Suarez on lap 21. It would just be three laps later as Hornish Jr, takes the lead away from Suarez. Ray Black. Jr had problems early as he went to the garage on lap 28. With 5 laps to go until the competition caution, Erik Jones started to report that “was having fuel pressure problems”. The problems were severe enough to force Jones on pit road right before the caution. Shortly after, the competition caution came out on lap 40.

The leaders came down pit road with all drivers taking four tires, and fuel, adjustments. Suarez won the race off pit road, followed by Hornish.Jr, Justin Allgaier, Alex Bowman, and Ben Kennedy in the 5^th spot. B.J. McLeod was the beneficiary under this caution period. During the caution, Erik Jones was penalized for fueling too soon before the caution. Nascar rules state that you cannot pit before any competition caution. This would setup for a lap 48 restart.

Daniel Suarez and Sam Hornish.Jr, battled it out until Suarez took the lead. But Hornish Jr, would take the lead just 10 laps later having the better car. Then Hornish Jr started to pull away from the field on lap 61. Brendan Gaughan was gaining ground after starting in the rear, by moving all the way the up to the 13^th position. Lap 78 featured Bubba Wallace, moving in the 5^th spot after starting 12^th. More problems for Erik Jones as he pits on lap 84, for fuel this puts Jones 3 laps down. Ty Dillon gets passed by Brad Keselowski for the 6^th spot lap 89. 7 laps later the second caution came out for Ryan Preece, as he blew a tire and hits the wall off turn 4. Erik Jones went behind the wall to change the fuel cell.

On lap 100, the leaders came down pit road for their scheduled pit stops. Leaders ended up taking four tires and fuel. Suarez again wins the race off pit road, followed by his teammate Hornish Jr. Dakoda Armstrong is the beneficiary under this caution flag.

Restart lap 104, Saurez inside, and Hornish.Jr on the outside. But Suarez had a more stronger car than Hornish.Jr and took the lead. There was three wide action in the back featuring Ty Dillon, Brandon Jones, and Brad Keselowski. All three made it through for clean passes. Sam Hornish Jr and Daniel Suarez battled it out from lap 114-119, until Hornish took the lead away from Suarez. Lap 120, saw Paige Decker go to the garage. Four laps late the third caution came out, for Derrike Cope blowing a right front tire. BJ McLeod again is the beneficiary. This caused all kind of strategies to play out.

Allgaier won the race off pit road by taking two tires only, but got busted for speeding and was sent to the rear. Therefore allowing Bubba Wallace, and Brennan Poole restarting on the front row. Poole got out in front of Wallace.Jr, but Suarez with fresher tires takes the lead on lap 133. Blake Koch brought out the caution one lap later as he spins out on the frontstretch. Replays show that Koch checked up, as Wallace was slow on the outside, and Brendan Gaughan was committed to the bottom. The 78 of BJ McLeod was the beneficiary once more.

Lap 140, saw the next restart as Sam Hornish. Jr pulled away from Suarez. Hornish Jr drove away from the field, and lead for the next 53 laps until the 5^th caution flag waves. J.J. Yeley and Drew Herring make contact with each other. Yeley ended up hitting the outside wall. All the leaders pitted under the yellow, and Hornish. Jr won the race off pit road. Jeremy Clements is the beneficiary for this caution.

The race restarted with 51 to go, and Hornish Jr, was out in front for 20 laps until another yellow slowed his pace. Drew Herring was spun by Dakoda Armstrong off of turn 4. Brendan Gaughan got his lap back under the caution period. None of the leaders came down pit road. The next restart was with 27 to go. As Hornish. Jr takes the lead once again and pull away from the field. As it seemed Sam would drive away, Ty Dillon started to reel him in with 14 to go.

But it wouldn't be enough though for Dillon, as returning veteran Sam Hornish Jr wins the American Ethanol E15 250, presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway. Ty Dillon was 2^nd, Brad Keselowski 3^rd, Daniel Suarez 4^th, and Alex Bowman rounded out the top 5. There was 6 cautions for 33 laps, and 4 leaders for 10 lead changes. This was Sam's 4^th career Xfinity Series win. The Nascar Xfinity Series is off next weekend, before returning to Daytona on July 1^st.