Aric Almirola Seizes Victory in Phoenix Xfinity Race with Thrilling Three-Wide Pass
Aric Almirola, the 40-year-old Tampa native, took home a dramatic win at the GOVX 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway, showcasing his skill with a last-lap pass in overtime that involved intense door-to-door contact with Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman. The race culminated in a nail-biting finish with a margin of victory of just 0.045 seconds, marking the second-closest finish in the track’s storied history.
Almirola’s victory was fueled by his strategic move on the final lap, where he managed to overtake Bowman, who had been leading for the majority of the race. The Tampa native led 25 laps throughout the event but saved his best for last, emerging from a competitive four-wide battle for the lead on the final restart with only two laps remaining. With sheer determination, Almirola made a calculated move less than 200 feet from the finish line to secure the win.
Reflecting on his thrilling victory, Almirola expressed his focus on reaching the finish line first, acknowledging the aggressive nature of his final move. Standing alongside his car at the start-finish line, he shared, “I just knew I needed to get from there to here first… I knew I was going to use him up a little bit, but was trying to win the race.”
Despite Almirola’s triumphant moment, Bowman, who drives the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, voiced his frustration over the intense contact between their vehicles. Starting the race on the pole position, Bowman had led the first 70 laps and won the opening stage before ultimately falling victim to Almirola’s strategic pass in the race’s final moments.
Following the race, Bowman expressed his disappointment, highlighting the impact of the contact on his race car. Reflecting on the incident, he shared, “I would have hoped he would have given me a lane on exit… He just exited like I wasn’t there.”
In the wake of the intense competition, Almirola’s teammate Brandon Jones secured a third-place finish, with owner-driver Ryan Sieg and reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier rounding out the top five. Allgaier, despite leading a race-best 130 laps and clinching the second stage win, was visibly disappointed with the final outcome, attributing it to a challenging restart.
As the NASCAR Xfinity Series continues to captivate fans, the next event will take place at the LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with defending race winner John Hunter Nemechek looking to make his mark once again on the track.
