Xfinity

Noah Gragson Falls Short at Phoenix: ‘We just missed it as a whole’

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2021 Xfinity Phoenix Noah Gragson, No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

Noah Gragson didn’t have the speed to contend for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race win and championship on Saturday (Nov. 6) at Phoenix Raceway, but he wound up having a shot at the end, restarting inside the top five.

That’s when the No. 9 slid up and smacked the outside wall in turns 1 and 2. Miraculously, he stayed out and was able to salvage a 12th-place finish, falling short of the championship and finishing third in the overall standings.

Austin Cindric Beaten by Inches for Xfinity Series Championship

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2021 Xfinity Phoenix Austin Cindric, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (Credit: NKP)

A second consecutive championship was on the line for Austin Cindric. He fell inches short.

A bump-and-run from perennial runner-up Daniel Hemric in the final set of corners left Cindric 0.03 seconds from the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series title at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday night (Nov. 6).

The contact came coming to the checkered flag on an overtime restart to define the season’s title bout. Cindric was “pissed” he was moved but said it was fair game.

Daniel Hemric’s Championship Bid Alive After Run-in With Dead Deer

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Daniel Hemric at Phoenix Raceway

Daniel Hemric got a call from crew chief Dave Rogers around 9 a.m. Friday (Nov. 5) in Phoenix.

“Hey, I’m sure you’ve heard already,” Rogers said.

Hemric, who had been off his phone and “off the radar” during the buildup to the Xfinity Series’ championship race on Saturday (Nov. 6), hadn’t heard anything.