Joe Gibbs Racing added yet another milestone to the team’s legacy on Saturday afternoon at Michigan Int’l Speedway.
After warding off a late-race attack from polesitter Josh Berry in the closing laps of the Cabo Wabo 250, John Hunter Nemechek went on to score the 200th NASCAR Xfinity Series victory for JGR at the checkered flag.
“Getting 200 is sweet. We’ve been joking about it for the past few weeks, and after the past couple of weeks that we’ve had, we’ve definitely needed to rebound. This is a great rebound,” Nemechek said. “It’s definitely special. Being able to win so many races for JGR in the Xfinity Series — I’m just the lucky guy that gets to hold the wheel of these fast Toyota GR Supras every single weekend.”
Nemechek finished 1.495 seconds ahead of Berry, collecting his series-leading fifth win of the season. He led a race high of 65 laps.
Berry’s JR Motorsports teammate Brandon Jones came in third, while JGR’s Ty Gibbs finished fourth at the two-mile track.
Sam Mayer completed the top five in his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
How It Happened
Justin Allgaier, who started outside the front row, controlled much of stage one. Nemecheck experienced trouble early on, after he was involved in a five-car incident on lap 12 — three of the cars were from the JGR stable.
Nemechek tapped Gibbs’ No. 19 entry as the two fought for fourth alongside teammate Sammy Smith, with the No. 19 breaking loose on exit in turn two. Smith sustained major damage to his No. 18 Toyota and was forced to call it a day following the crash, while Nemechek and Gibbs were able to recover.
Meanwhile, Allgaier powered his way to the opening stage win in Michigan.
Gibbs stole the spotlight in stage two, but Nemechek rebounded to take the lead on lap 54. After a pit-lane incident with Gibbs during the stage one break, Allgaier climbed his way through the field and passed Gibbs for second on lap 58, only two laps before Nemechek earned the stage two win in his No. 20 Toyota.
Nemechek kept tight control of the race during the final stage, cruising to the checkered flag on lap 125.