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NASCAR: Nemechek one-ups his dad in final Xfinity race at Auto Club Speedway

February 27, 2023

Justin Allgaier (7) and John Hunter Nemechek (20) battle for the lead during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

John Hunter Nemechek celebrates as steam pours out of the engine after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

John Hunter Nemechek takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A pit crew member for Chandler Smith leaps over a tire during a pit stop during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Ryan Ellis (43) takes the white flag as he runs the last competitive lap on the the Auto Club Speedway 2-mile oval during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Josh Berry (8) and Sheldon Creed (2) battle for position during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A pit crew member prepares for a pit stop during the during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Sheldon Creed (2) and Austin Dillon (10) battle for position during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Sammy Smith (18), Sheldon Creed (2) and Josh Berry (8) battle for position during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A pair of cars race down the front straight during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

John Hunter Nemechek celebrates on top of his car as steam pours out of the engine after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series teams push their race cars back to the garage after persistant rain postponed the Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race will resume following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A NASCAR Xfinity Series crew member walks down the pit lane as race cars return to the pits due to persistent rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers drive across the front straightawy as a jet dryer attempts to dry the track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race was stopped after just two pace laps due to persistant rain. The race will be concluded Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill stands for the national anthem prior to the Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series crew members Matt Schlytter and Matt Kempe use squeegees to remove water from the pit lane at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ross Chastain, center left, stands under an umbrella after exiting his race car on the pit lane after rain stopped the Production Alliance Group 300 after only two pace laps at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Brennan Poole, right, walks away from his race after rain stopped the Production Alliance Group 300 after only two pace laps at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Jet dryers attempt to dry water off the track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series crew member attempts to dry a pit stall prior to the Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series cars sit on the pit lane prior to the Production Alliance Group 300 as threatening weather moves win at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Cole Custer climbs into his race car for the Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A NASCAR Xfinity Series crew member walks down the pit lane as race cars return to the pits following just two pace laps due to persistant rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race will be concluded Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers drive across the front straightaway as a jet dryer attempts to dry the track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race was stopped after just two pace laps due to persistent rain. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ross Chastain, center, stands under an umbrella after exiting his race car on the pit lane after rain stopped the Production Alliance Group 300 after only two pace laps at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Dillon climbs from his race car after returning to the pits after just two pace laps due to persistant rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race will be concluded Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The Xfinity Series team of Kaz Grala push his covered race towards his garage in the pouring rain as they unload equipment at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 for Saturday’s scheduled Production Alliance Group 300. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Jet dryers attempt to dry water in the pits at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Matthew Darby, with Parker Retzlaff,s Xfinity Series team, pulls filled gasoline containers through the garage in the pouring rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 as they prepare for Saturday’s scheduled Production Alliance Group 300. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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FONTANA — The sun peeked out before John Hunter Nemechek picked up the last win under the lights at Auto Club Speedway.

Nemechek, who finished second in the season opener last week at Daytona, pulled away late in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra to claim the checkered flag at the rain-delayed NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 on Sunday night.

“It’s awesome that the race got pushed (to Sunday) and that I am the final winner,” Nemechek said. “It’s an amazing track. I hate to see it go.”

Originally set for Saturday, the Xfinity Series race was rescheduled to immediately following the Cup Series Pala Casino 400, making it the final race on Fontana’s famous 2-mile track.

“To be the final winner here means a lot,” Nemechek said. “Maybe when they tear this place up they’ll send me some asphalt as a momento.”

It’s the third career win for Nemechek, the son of retired NASCAR veteran Joe Nemechek, who won the first ever pole at California Speedway in 1997. It’s also the 11th win for Joe Gibbs Racing at Fontana.

“To be able to do some of the stuff my Dad did was special,” Nemechek said. “I’m proud to be a part of this organization and we’re starting the year off right. Now we have to keep it going.”

Sam Mayer finished second, Justin Allgaier took third and Chandler Smith was fourth.

“I was leading the race last week and I ended up on my roof, so I’m super happy to be top 3 this week,” said Mayer, who flipped on the Final Lap of the Xfinity Series race last week at Daytona.

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In a race littered with 10 cautions, Mayer and Tyler Reddick made contact on Lap 1 to set an early tone.

“We threw the kitchen sink at it and we ended up second. I’m proud of that,” Mayer said.

Orange County native Cole Custer, winner of Xfinity Series races at Fontana in 2019 and 2022, took the lead on Lap 25 and held to win Stage 1.

Sheldon Creed was spun and smoothly kissed the wall early in Stage 2, and Custer controlled lap after lap to win again and claim his 19th career Xfinity Series stage.

Custer started sixth in the final stage but the right front tire on his No. 00 Ford Mustang went soft on the restart and he was pushed against the wall, finishing 27th.

After the restart, Nemecheck battled with Creed and Sammy Smith for the lead before Reddick was smashed up against the wall with 50 laps remaining.

Scheduled pit stops from the leaders with 25 laps to go gave Austin Dillon, the 2016 Xfinity winner at Fontana, a brief lead but a ninth caution reset the field for a final run.

Smith was pushed sideways by Austin Hill on the ensuing restart, and Dillon faded as Nemechek proved to be too much, leading the last 13 laps to the finish line.

Orange County Register

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NASCAR: Nemechek one-ups his dad in final Xfinity race at Auto Club Speedway

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