Aric Almirola wins in historic Xfinity Series finish at Phoenix

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Aric Almirola (19) during the GovX 200 at Phoenix Raceway. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Aric Almirola edges Alex Bowman in historic Xfinity Series finish at Phoenix

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 8:27 PM ET

Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix ended in a chaotic photo finish.

Justin Allgaier dominated Stage 3 of the GOVX 200, but a caution with four laps to go forced the race into NASCAR Overtime.

Allgaier and Aric Almirola raced for the lead into turn one on the final restart, but Allgaier overdrove his No. 7 into the corner, forcing himself and Almirola up the track. With a path cleared, Alex Bowman shot through to the race lead.

While Allgaier toiled in the back half of the top-five, Almirola got to Bowman's bumper. As Bowman and Almirola entered the final corner, Almirola got to the inside, pushing Bowman up the track on corner exit.

When the two drivers crossed the line, Almirola beat Bowman in the second-closest finish at Phoenix in the history of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

WHAT. A. FINISH!! pic.twitter.com/T9HrPc20Xn
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 9, 2025

"I feel like it was warranted. I didn't do anything egregious," Almirola told CW Sports regarding the last-lap contact.

Bowman didn't quite see it the same way.

"He just exited like I wasn't there," Bowman told CW Sports. "Trying to win the race and I get shoved in the fence and the race car is destroyed."

A dejected Allgaier came up shy of victory lane at Phoenix in heartbreaking fashion for the third consecutive time, though the championship he earned at Phoenix likely softened the blow.

"I'd like to have that one back," Allgaier told CW Sports.

Bowman, Brandon Jones, Ryan Sieg and Allgaier rounded out the top-five, with Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, Christian Eckes, Jesse Love and Nick Sanchez completing the top-10.

Other notable finishers include William Sawalich in 13th, Connor Zilch in 16th, Harrison Burton in 20th, Carson Kvapil in 26th and Sheldon Creed in 36th.

The fifth race of the 2025 Xfinity Series season will take place on March 15 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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