Beginning in 2009, the Dash4Cash was used as an incentive to spike interest in the sport’s second tier.
NASCAR’s Xfinity Series made the first of two trips to the overcast Tennessee Smokies’ Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017 for the Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300. Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon lead the field to green at the .533 mile racetrack. The 79 consecutive green flag laps run was the longest for a Bristol start.
The race was important to winner Erik Jones, but more important for full-time Xfinity drivers. The Dash4Cash provides a little more motivation to not only win the race, but to fight all day and be flawless.
Rookie Daniel Hemric finished the race in fifth place, but won the $100,000 Dash4Cash because he was the highest finishing full-time, points earning Xfinity Series driver.
The top-two finishing Xfinity drivers in each in stage in the select races will be in contention for the $100,000. The select races are Phoenix; won by Justin Allgaier, Bristol; won by Hemric, Richmond and Dover.
$600,000 would have been given to the driver who won all four bonuses, totaling 1 million, per NASCAR. Beginning in 2009, the Dash4Cash was used as an incentive to spike interest in the sport’s second tier. Bristol is in its sixth year in the Dash4Cash and 2017 is the second year of heat racing.
Midway through the race, the rain began to fall and NASCAR, after four wet laps called the cars onto pit road under the red flag. The red flag came out again on lap 260 when Darrell Wallace Jr’s № 6 was beat up then hit by Garrett Smithley in the № 0.
The Dash4Cash race was a product of multiple cars electing to run up high and lay rubber to develop another lane. NASCAR has also laid a rosin on the track to increase grip and traction. These changes opened up the racing and allowed for early passing and contact between cars.
After the rain delay, the green waved with Daniel Hemric and Brendan Gaughan first and second after staying out. Hemric was able to hold the field off and win stage 2, staking his eligibility for the Dash4Cash prize.
In all, the Fitzgerald 300 saw nine cautions, 85 caution laps and over 4 hours in length. The Dash4Cash continues next week in Toyota Care 250 at Richmond International Raceway.
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