The 2017 Ford EcoBoost 300 was the 33rd and final stock car race of the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the Championship 4 race, and the 23rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, November 18, 2017, in Homestead, Florida at Homestead–Miami Speedway, a permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 134 laps to complete. At race's end, Cole Custer, driving for Stewart–Haas Racing, would dominate the race to take his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory and his only victory of the season.
Meanwhile, third-place finisher, JR Motorsports driver William Byron would win his only NASCAR Xfinity Series championship after battling with teammate Elliott Sadler, passing Sadler with nine to go using the car of Ryan Preece to pass Sadler for the championship.
Background Championship drivers
Justin Allgaier advanced by virtue of points. William Byron advanced by winning the 2017 Ticket Galaxy 200. Daniel Hemric advanced by virtue of points. Elliott Sadler advanced by virtue of points.
Entry list #DriverTeamMake0Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet00Cole Custer (R)Stewart–Haas RacingFord1Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevrolet01Joe Nemechek (i)JD MotorsportsChevrolet2Ben Kennedy (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet3Scott Lagasse Jr.Richard Childress RacingChevrolet4Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevrolet5Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet07Ray Black Jr.SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet8Caesar BacarellaB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet9William Byron (R)JR MotorsportsChevrolet11Blake KochKaulig RacingChevrolet13Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsDodge14J. J. YeleyTriStar MotorsportsToyota15Harrison RhodesJD MotorsportsChevrolet16Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord18Ryan PreeceJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19Matt Tifft (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota20Christopher Bell (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota21Daniel Hemric (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet22Sam Hornish Jr.Team PenskeFord23Spencer Gallagher (R)GMS RacingChevrolet24Corey LaJoie (i)JGL RacingToyota33Brandon JonesRichard Childress RacingChevrolet38Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet39Stephen LeichtRSS RacingChevrolet40Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota42Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet46Quin HouffPrecision Performance MotorsportsChevrolet48Brennan PooleChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet52Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet55Matt MillsNextGen MotorsportsToyota60Ty MajeskiRoush Fenway RacingFord62Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet74John GrahamMike Harmon RacingDodge78B. J. McLeodB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevrolet90Josh WilliamsKing AutosportChevrolet93Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet98Casey MearsBiagi-DenBeste RacingFord99David StarrBJMM with SS-Green Light RacingChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice
First practice The first practice session was held on Friday, November 17, at 2:30 PM EST. The session would last for 55 minutes. Tyler Reddick, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 32.609 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed142Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet32.609165.59822Ben Kennedy (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet32.669165.294300Cole Custer (R)Stewart–Haas RacingFord32.773164.770Full first practice results
Second and final practice The final practice session, sometimes known as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, November 17, at 5:00 PM EST. The session would last for 55 minutes. William Byron, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 32.513 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed19William Byron (R) (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet32.513166.08722Ben Kennedy (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet32.592165.685300Cole Custer (R)Stewart–Haas RacingFord32.631165.487Full Happy Hour practice results
Qualifying Qualifying was held on Saturday, November 11, at 11:15 AM EST. Since Homestead–Miami Speedway is under in length, the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included three rounds. The first round was 15 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 15 minutes. Then, the second round would consist of the fastest 24 cars in Round 1, and drivers would have 10 minutes to set a lap. Round 3 consisted of the fastest 12 drivers from Round 2, and the drivers would have 5 minutes to set a time. Whoever was fastest in Round 3 would win the pole.
Tyler Reddick, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, would win the pole after setting a time of 32.604 and an average speed of in the third round.
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Quin Houff, Matt Mills, and Morgan Shepherd.
Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTime (R1)Speed (R1)Time (R2)Speed (R2)Time (R3)Speed (R3)142Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet32.864164.31432.486166.22532.604165.624200Cole Custer (R)Stewart–Haas RacingFord32.885164.20932.707165.10232.745164.911320Christopher Bell (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota32.798164.64432.824164.51432.810164.584421Daniel Hemric (R) (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet33.020163.53732.838164.44432.820164.534518Ryan PreeceJoe Gibbs RacingToyota33.184162.72932.908164.09432.839164.43969William Byron (R) (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet33.289162.21632.967163.80032.986163.706748Brennan PooleChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet33.197162.66532.751164.88032.996163.656822Sam Hornish Jr.Team PenskeFord32.989163.69133.070163.29032.998163.646960Ty MajeskiRoush Fenway RacingFord32.855164.35932.876164.25433.096163.1621019Matt Tifft (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota33.261162.35232.933163.96933.143162.9301111Blake KochKaulig RacingChevrolet33.353161.90433.027163.50333.188162.7091298Casey MearsBiagi-DenBeste RacingFord33.495161.21833.048163.39933.263162.343Eliminated in Round 2133Scott Lagasse Jr.Richard Childress RacingChevrolet33.198162.66033.071163.285 - -141Elliott Sadler (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet33.234162.48433.122163.034 - -1516Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord33.479161.29533.242162.445 - -167Justin Allgaier (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet33.350161.91933.272162.299 - -1724Corey LaJoieJGL RacingToyota33.273162.29433.319162.070 - -185Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet33.217162.56733.332162.006 - -194Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevrolet33.101163.13733.382161.764 - -2033Brandon JonesRichard Childress RacingChevrolet33.423161.56533.531161.045 - -2114J. J. YeleyTriStar MotorsportsToyota33.457161.40133.629160.576 - -2201Joe Nemechek (i)JD MotorsportsChevrolet33.425161.55633.714160.171 - -2362Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet33.449161.44033.723160.128 - -2493Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet33.456161.406 - - - -Eliminated in Round 1252Ben Kennedy (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet33.509161.151 - - - -260Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet33.540161.002 - - - -2707Ray Black Jr.SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet33.572160.848 - - - -2823Spencer Gallagher (R)GMS RacingChevrolet33.582160.800 - - - -2951Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet33.650160.475 - - - -308Caesar BacarellaB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet33.841159.570 - - - -3115Harrison RhodesJD MotorsportsChevrolet33.885159.363 - - - -3252Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet34.017158.744 - - - -3390Josh WilliamsKing AutosportChevrolet34.023158.716 - - - -Qualified by owner's points3413Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsDodge34.049158.595 - - - -3578B. J. McLeodB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet34.067158.511 - - - -3640Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota34.298157.444 - - - -3739Stephen LeichtRSS RacingChevrolet34.402156.968 - - - -3899David StarrBJMM with SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet34.622155.970 - - - -3974John GrahamMike Harmon RacingDodge36.100149.584 - - - -4038Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet36.229149.052 - - - -Failed to qualify4146Quin HouffPrecision Performance MotorsportsChevrolet34.170158.033 - - - -4255Matt MillsNextGen MotorsportsToyota34.184157.969 - - - -4389Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevrolet34.504156.504 - - - -Official qualifying resultsOfficial starting lineup
Race results
Note: Justin Allgaier, William Byron, Daniel Hemric, and Elliott Sadler are not eligible for stage points because of their participation in the Championship 4.
Stage 1 Laps: 45 Pos.#DriverTeamMakePts100Cole Custer (R)Stewart–Haas RacingFord10242Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet9323Spencer Gallagher (R)GMS RacingChevrolet843Scott Lagasse Jr.Richard Childress RacingChevrolet7518Ryan PreeceJoe Gibbs RacingToyota6660Ty MajeskiRoush Fenway RacingFord5721Daniel Hemric (R) (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet081Elliott Sadler (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet0914J. J. YeleyTriStar MotorsportsToyota21001Joe Nemechek (i)JD MotorsportsChevrolet0 Stage 2 Laps: 45 Pos.#DriverTeamMakePts100Cole Custer (R)Stewart–Haas RacingFord10222Sam Hornish Jr.Team PenskeFord9342Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet8418Ryan PreeceJoe Gibbs RacingToyota759William Byron (R) (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet061Elliott Sadler (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet0748Brennan PooleChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet4860Ty MajeskiRoush Fenway RacingFord397Justin Allgaier (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet01024Corey LaJoieJGL RacingToyota1 Stage 3 Laps: 110 PosDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPts100Cole Custer (R)Stewart–Haas RacingFord200182running60222Sam Hornish Jr.Team PenskeFord2000running4439William Byron (R) (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet2000running34442Tyler ReddickChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet20018running50518Ryan PreeceJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2000running45648Brennan PooleChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet2000running35719Matt Tifft (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota2000running3081Elliott Sadler (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet2000running2995Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet1990running281060Ty MajeskiRoush Fenway RacingFord1990running351198Casey MearsBiagi-DenBeste RacingFord1990running26127Justin Allgaier (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet1990running251362Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1990running241433Brandon JonesRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1990running231524Corey LaJoieJGL RacingToyota1990running231611Blake KochKaulig RacingChevrolet1990running21174Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevrolet1980running20182Ben Kennedy (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet1980running191923Spencer Gallagher (R)GMS RacingChevrolet1980running262016Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord1980running17213Scott Lagasse Jr.Richard Childress RacingChevrolet1980running232214J. J. YeleyTriStar MotorsportsToyota1980running172351Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet1970running14240Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet1960running132507Ray Black Jr.SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1960running122693Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet1960running112701Joe Nemechek (i)JD MotorsportsChevrolet1960running02890Josh WilliamsKing AutosportChevrolet1960running92952Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet1950running83040Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota1940running7318Caesar BacarellaB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet1930running63299David StarrBJMM with SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1920running53378B. J. McLeodB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet1910running43421Daniel Hemric (R) (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet1870running33539Stephen LeichtRSS RacingChevrolet1020brakes23620Christopher Bell (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota780engine03713Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsDodge540vibration13874John GrahamMike Harmon RacingDodge310parked13915Harrison RhodesJD MotorsportsChevrolet190electrical14038Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet100clutch1Official race results
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 William Byron 4,034 1 2 Elliott Sadler 4,029 (-5) 1 3 Justin Allgaier 4,025 (-9) 4 Daniel Hemric 4,003 (–31) 5 Cole Custer 2,288 (–1,746) 1 6 Brennan Poole 2,223 (-1,811) 1 7 Matt Tifft 2,211 (-1,823) 8 Ryan Reed 2,161 (-1,873) 1 9 Michael Annett 2,155 (-1,879) 1 10 Brendan Gaughan 2,153 (-1,881) 11 Blake Koch 2,138 (-1,896) 12 Jeremy Clements 2,107 (-1,927)Official driver's standings
Note: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings.
References