The 2024 ToyotaCare 250 was the 6th stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 44th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, a permanent asphalt tri-oval shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 250 laps to complete. Chandler Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would dominate the final stages of the race, leading 76 laps and earning his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, his second of the season, and his second consecutive win at Richmond. Smith's teammate, Aric Almirola, was the most consistent driver of the race, leading a race-high 95 laps and winning both stages. He ended up finishing 2nd in the race. To fill out the podium, Taylor Gray, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish 3rd in his series debut in a JGR 1-2-3 finish.
The race would feature a late race incident between Joey Gase and Dawson Cram. While battling outside the top 25 on lap 171, Cram and Gase had made contact at the end of the frontstretch, causing Gase to spin into the outside wall in turn 1. Frustrated, Gase reacted by ripping off his back bumper cover, and throwing it at Cram's car. NASCAR had fined Joey Gase $5,000 on a safety violation may be imposed for any action or omission by a competitor or vehicle that creates an unsafe environment or poses a threat to the safety of the Competitors.
This was the last Xfinity Series race at Richmond, as it was replaced by a race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in 2025.
Report
Background
Richmond Raceway (RR) is a 0.75 miles (1.21 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in unincorporated Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it has formerly hosted events such as the International Race of Champions, Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, and the USAC sprint car series. Due to Richmond Raceway's unique "D" shape which allows drivers to reach high speeds, Richmond has long been known as a short track that races like a superspeedway. With its multiple racing grooves, and proclivity for contact Richmond is a favorite among NASCAR drivers and fans.
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
#DriverTeamMake00Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFord1Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevrolet2Jesse Love (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet4Dawson Cram (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet5Anthony AlfredoOur MotorsportsChevrolet6Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet07Patrick EmerlingSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet8Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet9Brandon JonesJR MotorsportsChevrolet11Josh WilliamsKaulig RacingChevrolet14Logan BeardenSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet15Hailie Deegan (R)AM RacingFord16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet18Sheldon CreedJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19Taylor Gray (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota20Aric AlmirolaJoe Gibbs RacingToyota21Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26Corey Heim (i)Sam Hunt RacingToyota27Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet28Kyle SiegRSS RacingFord29Blaine PerkinsRSS RacingFord31Parker RetzlaffJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet32Ryan VargasJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet35Joey GaseJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet38Matt DiBenedettoRSS RacingFord39Ryan SiegRSS RacingFord42Leland Honeyman (R)Young's MotorsportsChevrolet43Ryan EllisAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet44Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet48Parker KligermanBig Machine RacingChevrolet51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet81Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyota88Bubba PollardJR MotorsportsChevrolet91Kyle WeathermanDGM RacingChevrolet92Josh BilickiDGM RacingChevrolet97Shane van Gisbergen (R)Kaulig RacingChevrolet98Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFordOfficial entry list
Practice The first and only practice session was held on Saturday, March 30, at 8:35 AM EST, and would last for 20 minutes. Bubba Pollard, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.855, and a speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed188Bubba PollardJR MotorsportsChevrolet22.855118.136211Josh WilliamsKaulig RacingChevrolet22.860118.110391Kyle WeathermanDGM RacingChevrolet22.893117.940Full practice results
Qualifying Qualifying was held on Saturday, March 30, at 9:05 AM EST. Since Richmond Raceway is a short track, the qualifying system used is a single-car, two-lap system with only one round. Drivers will be on track by themselves and will have two laps to post a qualifying time. Whoever sets the fastest time in that round will win the pole.
Parker Retzlaff, driving for Jordan Anderson Racing, would score his first career pole for the race, with a lap of 22.420, and a speed of .
No drivers would fail to qualify.
Qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed131Parker RetzlaffJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet22.420120.42829Brandon JonesJR MotorsportsChevrolet22.516119.915300Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFord22.517119.909481Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyota22.521119.88857Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet22.571119.623626Corey Heim (i)Sam Hunt RacingToyota22.576119.596716A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet22.599119.47482Jesse Love (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet22.734118.765948Parker KligermanBig Machine RacingChevrolet22.747118.6971020Aric AlmirolaJoe Gibbs RacingToyota22.757118.645111Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevrolet22.763118.6141297Shane van Gisbergen (R)Kaulig RacingChevrolet22.782118.515138Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet22.797118.4371498Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFord22.813118.3541539Ryan SiegRSS RacingFord22.840118.2141621Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevrolet22.842118.2031751Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet22.845118.188185Anthony AlfredoOur MotorsportsChevrolet22.858118.1211944Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet22.869118.0642018Sheldon CreedJoe Gibbs RacingToyota22.896117.9252127Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet22.923117.7862243Ryan EllisAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet22.945117.6732391Kyle WeathermanDGM RacingChevrolet23.035117.2132415Hailie Deegan (R)AM RacingFord23.054117.1162542Leland Honeyman (R)Young's MotorsportsChevrolet23.062117.0762611Josh WilliamsKaulig RacingChevrolet23.075117.0102719Taylor Gray (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota23.110116.8332829Blaine PerkinsRSS RacingFord23.171116.5252992Josh BilickiDGM RacingChevrolet23.173116.5153032Ryan VargasJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet23.197116.3943138Matt DiBenedettoRSS RacingFord23.243116.1643214Logan BeardenSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet23.261116.074334Dawson Cram (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet23.269116.034Qualified by owner's points3428Kyle SiegRSS RacingFord23.326115.7513507Patrick EmerlingSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet23.507114.859366Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet23.524114.7763788Bubba PollardJR MotorsportsChevrolet23.947112.7493835Joey GaseJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet––Official qualifying resultsOfficial starting lineup
Race results Stage 1 Laps: 75 Pos.#DriverTeamMakePts120Aric AlmirolaJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10244Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet9326Corey Heim (i)Sam Hunt RacingToyota047Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet751Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevrolet6698Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFord5781Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyota4800Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFord3919Taylor Gray (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota0108Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet1 Stage 2 Laps: 75 Pos.#DriverTeamMakePts120Aric AlmirolaJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1021Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevrolet9381Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyota8419Taylor Gray (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota0526Corey Heim (i)Sam Hunt RacingToyota067Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet5721Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4831Parker RetzlaffJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet3900Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFord21014Logan BeardenSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1 Stage 3 Laps: 100 FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPts1481Chandler SmithJoe Gibbs RacingToyota25076Running5221020Aric AlmirolaJoe Gibbs RacingToyota25095Running5532719Taylor Gray (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota2500Running04626Corey Heim (i)Sam Hunt RacingToyota25015Running0582Jesse Love (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet2500Running3263788Bubba PollardJR MotorsportsChevrolet2500Running317948Parker KligermanBig Machine RacingChevrolet2500Running3081621Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2500Running339138Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet2500Running2910300Cole CusterStewart–Haas RacingFord2497Running321157Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet24928Running38122611Josh WilliamsKaulig RacingChevrolet2490Running25131498Riley HerbstStewart–Haas RacingFord2490Running2914716A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet2490Running23151297Shane van Gisbergen (R)Kaulig RacingChevrolet2490Running2216131Parker RetzlaffJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet24927Running24172391Kyle WeathermanDGM RacingChevrolet2490Running20183138Matt DiBenedettoRSS RacingFord2490Running19192992Josh BilickiDGM RacingChevrolet2490Running18202542Leland Honeyman (R)Young's MotorsportsChevrolet2490Running1721366Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet2490Running16223214Logan BeardenSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2490Running16233428Kyle SiegRSS RacingFord2490Running14241751Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet2490Running1325334Dawson Cram (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet2480Running12262127Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet2480Running11272243Ryan EllisAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet2480Running10281944Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet2480Running1829185Anthony AlfredoOur MotorsportsChevrolet2480Running830111Sam MayerJR MotorsportsChevrolet2462Running22312415Hailie Deegan (R)AM RacingFord2410Running6321539Ryan SiegRSS RacingFord2200Running5332829Blaine PerkinsRSS RacingFord1810Running4343835Joey GaseJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet1710Accident3352018Sheldon CreedJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1180Brakes2363507Patrick EmerlingSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet950Brakes13729Brandon JonesJR MotorsportsChevrolet420Engine1383032Ryan VargasJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet180Engine1Official race results
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 1 Chandler Smith 265 1 2 Austin Hill 255 (-10) 3 Cole Custer 224 (–41) 4 Jesse Love 198 (–67) 5 Riley Herbst 194 (–71) 6 A. J. Allmendinger 185 (–80) 1 7 Justin Allgaier 181 (–84) 1 8 Parker Kligerman 177 (–88) 2 9 Sammy Smith 153 (–112) 1 10 Brandon Jones 140 (–125) 1 11 Sheldon Creed 137 (–128) 12 Anthony Alfredo 131 (–134)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 220 2 Toyota 214 (–6) 3 Ford 180 (–40) Note: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings.
References