Ryan Truex wins Xfinity race at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Truex emerged victorious in the Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night, clinching the checkered flag under caution after an overtime finish. Despite the win, Truex, a part-time driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, is ineligible for the playoffs, making this victory a bittersweet milestone. It marks his third win in 98 starts and his first at Daytona, adding to his two wins in eight starts this season as he seeks a full-time ride for 2025. The decisive moment came during a green-white-checkered restart, where Truex took the lead and successfully fended off challenges from AJ Allmendinger. The race concluded dramatically when Allmendinger attempted to block Parker Kligerman, resulting in a collision that sent Allmendinger into the wall, finishing him in 24th place. Kligerman expressed regret over the incident, stating, “I don’t want to turn someone like that,” emphasizing the competitive nature of the race. As the race unfolded, eight drivers were solidly positioned for playoff spots, including Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer. Meanwhile, Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed, Sammy Smith, and Kligerman were vying for the final four berths. The event was marked by two multicar crashes in the final 25 laps, which included notable drivers like Jesse Love and Brandon Jones, but ultimately, no one could match Truex's pace off the restart.