2024 Raptor King of Tough 250

The 2024 Raptor King of Tough 250 was the 2nd stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval shaped intermediate speedway (with superspeedway rules). The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 163 laps, but was increased to 169 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish.Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, took advantage of the lead on the final restart with two laps to go, and was able to stretch his fuel mileage to earn his 8th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, his second of the season, and his second consecutive win.[8] Hill's teammate, Jesse Love, was the most dominant driver of the race, winning both stages and leading a race-high 157 laps, before his car sputtered on the final restart.[9] To fill out the podium, Chandler Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Shane van Gisbergen, driving for Kaulig Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

2024 Raptor King of Tough 250
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Race 2 of 33 of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date February 24, 2024
Official name 33rd Annual Raptor King of Tough 250
Location Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia
Course Permanent racing facility
1.54 mi (2.48 km)
Distance 169 laps, 260 mi (418 km)
Scheduled Distance 163 laps, 251 mi (404 km)
Average speed 135.474 mph (218.024 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time 31.874
Most laps led
Driver Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing
Laps 157
Winner
No. 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Adam Alexander, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN

Report

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Background

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Atlanta Motor Speedway, the circuit where the race will be held.

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Xfinity Series stock car races since 1992.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. In July 2021 NASCAR announced that the track would be reprofiled for the 2022 season to have 28 degrees of banking and would be narrowed from 55 to 40 feet which the track claims will turn racing at the track similar to restrictor plate superspeedways. Despite the reprofiling being criticized by drivers, construction began in August 2021 and wrapped up in December 2021.[10][11] The track has seating capacity of 71,000 to 125,000 people depending on the tracks configuration.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Cole Custer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford Haas Automation
1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet Raptor High Heat
2 Jesse Love (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Whelen
4 Dawson Cram (R) JD Motorsports Chevrolet KSDT CPA
5 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet Chapman Fence
6 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet JD Motorsports
07 Patrick Emerling SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet SIMFORGE
7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet Jarrett 25 Years
8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet Pilot Flying J
9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet Atlas Roofing / Menards
11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Alloy Employer Services
14 J. J. Yeley SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet SS-Green Light Racing
15 Hailie Deegan (R) AM Racing Ford AirBox
16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Campers Inn RV
18 Sheldon Creed Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Friends of Jaclyn Foundation
19 Ryan Truex Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Toyota Genuine Parts
20 John Hunter Nemechek (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Pye Barker Fire & Safety
21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Bennett Transportation
26 Jeffrey Earnhardt Sam Hunt Racing Toyota ForeverLawn
27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet State Water Heaters
28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford Night Owl Companies
29 Blaine Perkins RSS Racing Ford Pritchard Injury Firm
31 Parker Retzlaff Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet FVP / Bommarito.com
32 Jordan Anderson Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet EasyCare
35 Joey Gase Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet NCPC Race Against Crime
38 C. J. McLaughlin RSS Racing Ford Viking Motorsports
39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford Sci Aps
42 Leland Honeyman (R) Young's Motorsports Chevrolet LH Waterfront Construction
43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Classic Collision
44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Finance Pro Plus
48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Big Machine Spiked Light Coolers
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet One Stop / All South Electric
78 B. J. McLeod B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet B. J. McLeod Motorsports
81 Chandler Smith Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Quick Tie Products
91 Kyle Weatherman DGM Racing Chevrolet DriveSmartWarranty.com
92 Nick Leitz DGM Racing Chevrolet Precision Measurements
97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet WeatherTech
98 Riley Herbst Stewart–Haas Racing Ford Monster Energy
Official entry list

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, February 23, at 5:00 PM EST.[12] Since Atlanta Motor Speedway is an intermediate speedway with superspeedway rules, the qualifying system used is a single-car, single-lap system with two rounds. In the first round, drivers have one lap to set a time. The fastest ten drivers from the first round move on to the second round. Whoever sets the fastest time in Round 2 will win the pole.[13]

Jesse Love, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would advance from the preliminary round and set the fastest time in Round 2, with a lap of 31.874, and a speed of 173.935 mph (279.921 km/h). He became the first driver in series history to earn two consecutive poles in his first two starts.[14]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time (R1) Speed (R1) Time (R2) Speed (R2)
1 2 Jesse Love (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31.948 173.532 31.874 173.935
2 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 32.065 172.899 31.916 173.706
3 20 John Hunter Nemechek (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 32.086 172.786 31.947 173.537
4 98 Riley Herbst Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 32.168 172.345 31.999 173.255
5 48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 32.151 172.436 32.022 173.131
6 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 32.251 171.902 32.028 173.099
7 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 32.072 172.861 32.035 173.061
8 19 Ryan Truex Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 32.213 172.104 32.079 172.823
9 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 32.128 172.560 32.115 172.630
10 18 Sheldon Creed Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 32.254 171.886 32.141 172.490
Eliminated in Round 1
11 00 Cole Custer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 32.258 171.864
12 81 Chandler Smith Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 32.294 171.673
13 97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 32.337 171.444
14 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 32.340 171.429
15 5 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet 32.414 171.037
16 11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 32.430 170.953
17 91 Kyle Weatherman DGM Racing Chevrolet 32.448 170.858
18 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 32.458 170.805
19 15 Hailie Deegan (R) AM Racing Ford 32.477 170.705
20 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 32.531 170.422
21 78 B. J. McLeod B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 32.676 169.666
22 26 Jeffrey Earnhardt Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 32.698 169.552
23 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 32.728 169.396
24 31 Parker Retzlaff Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 32.772 169.169
25 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 32.796 169.045
26 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 32.853 168.752
27 38 C. J. McLaughlin RSS Racing Ford 32.900 168.511
28 29 Blaine Perkins RSS Racing Ford 32.919 168.413
29 4 Dawson Cram (R) JD Motorsports Chevrolet 32.969 168.158
30 44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 33.086 167.563
31 92 Nick Leitz DGM Racing Chevrolet 33.100 167.492
32 6 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 33.111 167.437
33 35 Joey Gase Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 33.135 167.316
Qualified by owner's points
34 43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 33.147 167.255
35 42 Leland Honeyman (R) Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 33.151 167.235
36 14 J. J. Yeley SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 33.187 167.053
37 07 Patrick Emerling SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 33.396 166.008
38 32 Jordan Anderson Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Stage 1 Laps: 40

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 2 Jesse Love (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 10
2 98 Riley Herbst Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 9
3 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 19 Ryan Truex Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 6
6 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 5
7 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 18 Sheldon Creed Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 2
10 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1

Stage 2 Laps: 40

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 2 Jesse Love (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 10
2 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 98 Riley Herbst Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 8
4 19 Ryan Truex Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 6
6 81 Chandler Smith Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 00 Cole Custer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 4
8 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 3
9 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 2
10 18 Sheldon Creed Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1

Stage 3 Laps: 89

Fin[15] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts
1 2 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 169 2 Running 43
2 12 81 Chandler Smith Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 169 0 Running 40
3 13 97 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 169 0 Running 34
4 10 18 Sheldon Creed Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 169 0 Running 37
5 24 31 Parker Retzlaff Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 169 0 Running 32
6 23 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 169 0 Running 31
7 15 5 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet 169 0 Running 30
8 22 26 Jeffrey Earnhardt Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 169 0 Running 29
9 8 19 Ryan Truex Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 169 0 Running 42
10 14 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 169 0 Running 34
11 6 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 169 0 Running 34
12 1 2 Jesse Love (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 169 157 Running 45
13 7 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 169 8 Running 31
14 18 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 169 0 Running 23
15 4 98 Riley Herbst Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 168 0 Running 39
16 11 00 Cole Custer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 168 0 Running 25
17 17 91 Kyle Weatherman DGM Racing Chevrolet 168 0 Running 20
18 21 78 B. J. McLeod B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 168 0 Running 19
19 5 48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 168 1 Running 24
20 30 44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 167 0 Running 17
21 35 42 Leland Honeyman (R) Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 167 0 Running 16
22 20 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 167 0 Running 17
23 25 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 167 0 Running 14
24 36 14 J. J. Yeley SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 167 0 Running 13
25 34 43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 167 0 Running 12
26 31 92 Nick Leitz DGM Racing Chevrolet 167 0 Running 11
27 19 15 Hailie Deegan (R) AM Racing Ford 167 0 Running 10
28 9 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 167 0 Running 22
29 33 35 Joey Gase Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 166 0 Running 8
30 28 29 Blaine Perkins RSS Racing Ford 166 0 Running 7
31 29 4 Dawson Cram (R) JD Motorsports Chevrolet 166 0 Running 6
32 3 20 John Hunter Nemechek (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 165 0 Running 0
33 37 07 Patrick Emerling SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 165 0 Running 4
34 32 6 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 165 0 Running 3
35 27 38 C. J. McLaughlin RSS Racing Ford 164 0 Running 2
36 26 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 164 1 Running 1
37 16 11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 159 0 Running 1
38 38 32 Jordan Anderson Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 98 0 Steering 1
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2024 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Atlanta Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Entry list" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Qualifying Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "Starting lineup" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "Race Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Austin Hill stretches fuel mileage to win Xfinity race at Atlanta". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  9. ^ Stumpf, Stephen (February 24, 2024). "Fuel Tank Sputter Denies Dominant Jesse Love at Atlanta". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  10. ^ "Atlanta Motor Speedway to re-profile track in 2022 and drivers are expressing frustration with the changes". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  11. ^ "Atlanta Motor Speedway track reprofile begins | NASCAR". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  12. ^ "2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Atlanta Motor Speedway Spring Race Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Christie, Toby (February 23, 2024). "Jesse Love Makes History with Second Consecutive Pole to Start Xfinity Career". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  15. ^ "2024 RAPTOR King of Tough 250 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved February 24, 2024.


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