Nationwide Series: ToyotaCare 250 Live Race Updates
Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Friday night the Nationwide Series will be running the ToyotaCare 250 from Richmond International Raceway. Coming into this race rookie Chase Elliott will be looking to win his third race in a row following wins at Texas and Darlington. The NBA playoffs have pushed the race to ESPN News. Beyond the Flag will be providing live coverage via this article throughout the entire race. Simply refresh this article for all of the latest updates.
UPDATE #1 – The start of the ToyotaCare 250 has been delayed due to rain at Richmond. The good news is that the rain looks to be heading out and the track doesn’t take a long time to dry. At the moment it does appear that we are going to get this race in tonight!
UPDATE #2 – The rain has let up and the track is being dried. The covers are off of the cars and pit road is full of people. The green flag for the ToyotaCare 250 is getting closer.
UPDATE #3 – Well that light rain picked up in a hurry as it is pouring at the track once again. The rain is still supposed to let off but the radar has the track covered in the wet stuff right now.
UPDATE #4 – The rains have stopped again. Food for thought, although I think Chase Elliott should stay in Nationwide next year regardless … is there a number of races he could win this year that you would be okay with him moving to Sprint Cup in 2015? He has two wins now, what if he ends the season with say five or six or even more?
UPDATE #5 – You would think that they would run out of things to talk about during these long rain delays, nope they never do. Green flag should be coming soon.
UPDATE #6 – Pre-race ceremonies are about to get underway. I am digging the look of the No. 43 car tonight.
UPDATE #7 – The cars have gotten the command to start their engines. The race is currently being showed on ESPN NEWS but is going to be moved to ESPN 2 at 10:30 PM ET. Once the green flag drops we will continue to provide lap-by-lap updates and commentary. It’s been a long night but at least it’s time to go racing!
GREEN Flag!
Lap 12 – Brian Scott leads after we go back to green after an early caution. Competition caution is coming at lap 40.
Lap 21 – Kevin LePage upset about getting caught up in a wreck that was triggered by a mechanical failure. Hopefully when he sees the replay he will change his tone. Scott still leads.
Lap 24 – Kyle Busch and Regan Smith have both fallen back in the field a bit.
Lap 29 – Chase Elliott is reeling in leader Brian Scott but Kevin Harvick has the fastest car on the track.
Lap 35 – Harvick is up to 3rd and has caught and passed Elliott for 2nd!
Lap 40 – Competition caution is out. Larson is struggling with his handling as well. Brian Scott leads with Harvick in 2nd.
Lap 41 – Race is moving to ESPN 2 right now.
Lap 47 – Scott leads Harvick back to the green flag!
Lap 50 – Harvick to the lead and Elliott in 2nd.
Lap 60 – Kyle Busch is looking better as Kevin Harvick still leads. Elliott is running 2nd.
Lap 66 – Man it’s foggy out there!
Lap 73 – Harvick leads Elliott by 2.5 seconds over Chase Elliott with Trevor Bayne in 3rd. Harvick just passed Mark Martin for most laps ever lead at Richmond in NNS.
Lap 86 – Harvick still leads an it’s still very foggy.
Lap 92 – Elliot Sadler has a tire vibration.
Lap 108 – Cars are starting to pit because of tire wear. Harvick is still leading and flat out dominating this race right now.
Lap 120 – The brakes on the No. 20 car are LITERALLY on fire as he pits and returns to the track.
Lap 124 – Harvick has yet to pit as he continues to lead the race.
Lap 131 – Harvick almost got run over by cars with fresher tires who already pitted as he and Kyle Busch hit pit road.
Lap 135 – Despite staying out there forever, Harvick maintains the lead but it is only .700 seconds.
Lap 157 – Caution is out, Harvick wins the race off of pit road as we prepare for the restart.
Lap 170 – Harvick continues to lead.
Lap 195 – After a caution flag Elliot Sadler and Regan Smith spin on the restart to bring out another caution. Harvick leads with Chase Elliott in 2nd.
Lap 204 – Harvick takes the restart and pulls away from Chase Elliott. Elliott hangs strong in 2nd though.
39 Laps To Go – Harvick leads and Larson tries to break into the top-five.
17 Laps To Go – Only a late caution will keep Harvick from winning this race and even that may not matter.
Checked Flag – Harvick WINS! Click HERE for complete results.