Sunday’s Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado actually did not go like anybody anticipated, with favorites Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen getting taken out early in a wreck on the entrance of the sphere. With two of the front-runners taken out, we received a little bit of chaos on the San Diego Road Course and there is lots to research from right this moment’s Cup Collection motion.
Let’s dive into our winners and losers from the NASCAR race right this moment at Naval Base Coronado.
Winner: Corey Heim
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It is Heim Time within the Cup Collection. If you happen to requested everybody in NASCAR who was going to win at Naval Base Coronado, at the least 20 drivers would possibly’ve been picked earlier than Corey Heim. Did he ahve a bit of excellent fortune with the likes of SVG and Connor Zilisch getting taken out early? Sure. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old rose to the event when it mattered and seized on a uncommon mistake made by Tyler Reddick to maneuver into first. He left everybody behind him after that, cruising to his first-ever Cup Collection win. Heim did not even want to attend till his rookie season to get his first Cup trophy and we won’t wait to see him full-time in 2027.
Loser: Brad Keselowski
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It simply retains getting worse for Brad Keselowski. He left Charlotte in agency place to make The Chase, however the whole lot that might go unsuitable since then has. The No. 6 automobile had a tire concern within the last stage, however even earlier than that, there have been different issues for Keselowski. He completed Sunday’s race in thirty fourth, scoring simply 3 factors. Keselowski has now mixed to attain simply 11 factors within the final 4 races, which helps clarify why he sits nineteenth in factors proper now.
Winner: Ryan Preece
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Ryan Preece and the No. 60 staff desperately wanted this. Getting into the NASCAR race right this moment, Preece was coming off a four-race stretch the place he had recorded single-digit factors in every of these contests. He scored 19 stage factors alone on Sunday. The timing additionally labored out completely, as Shane van Gisbergen picked up a DNF, Bubba Wallace had points and Brad Keselowski did not carry out notably effectively. After a disastrous month-long stretch for Preece, this factors day thrusts him proper again into The Chase hunt.
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Loser: Shane van Gisbergen
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Shane van Gisbergen actually is not accountable for the wreck halfway by way of Stage 2, which resulted within the No. 97 automobile going straight to the storage. What lands SVG on the “losers” from the NASCAR race right this moment is the fallout from this race. Everybody anticipated him to win at Naval Base Coronado, choosing up a minimal of 60-plus factors when factoring in stage outcomes. He did not get something in Stage 1, opting to flip the stage, and that call proved expensive on Lap 31 due to Austin Hill’s lockup that prompted the wreck. SVG picked up single-digit factors on a street course, and that could possibly be devastating for his hopes of constructing The Chase.
Winner: 23XI Racing
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It was clear instantly that 23XI Racing’s four-car lineup had the pace to be aggressive at Naval Base Coronado. Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick and race-winner Corey Heim all led laps within the NASCAR race right this moment, exhibiting spectacular organization-wide tempo. Wallace recording a career-best second-place end on a street course, in itself, is outstanding, nevertheless it’s much more spectacular when you think about the No. 23 pit crew made a significant gaffe that prompted his front-left tire to come back off for a two-lap penalty in Stage 1. Even Riley Herbst, who’s in his last yr with 23XI, delivered an eighth-place end in San Diego and picked up stage factors. It is official at this level, 23XI is the third-best staff in NASCAR and there is a hole between it and Crew Penske.
Loser: Connor Zilisch
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If Connor Zilisch did not have unhealthy luck, he would not have any luck in any respect. It has been an all-time unhealthy rookie season for the 19-year-old and the No. 18 this yr. What everybody hoped for was a second of rejuvenation at San Diego, with Zilisch’s road-course wheelman abilities placed on full show. He showcased them early, main 8 of the primary 31 laps. Sadly on the restart on Lap 31, Austin Hill could not make the flip driving side-by-side with Zilisch and he drove proper into him. Zilisch has now completed thirtieth or worse in 4 of his final 5 races and he may quickly be combating off Cody Worse for final place in factors.
Winner: Zane Smith
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Entrance Row Motorsports would possibly need to speed up these contract extension talks with Zane Smith. Per week in the past he was operating inside the highest 5 at Pocono earlier than an aggressive transfer prompted him to wreck. Nonetheless, he had top-10 finishes at Charlotte and Nashville previous to that. Within the NASCAR race right this moment, Smith confirmed outstanding abilities navigating the San Diego Road Course, incomes himself a fourth-place end. If FRM does not get Smith signed to a brand new deal, we would assure prime groups will poach him in 2027.
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Loser: William Byron
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William Byron will nonetheless make The Chase. Nonetheless, it’s definitively secure to say he will not be successful a Cup Collection championship this season. The No. 24 automobile had points once more this weekend, leading to Byron ending thirty second and seven laps down on the end. That is the third time within the final 4 weeks he is completed 18th or worse, and he is scored single-digit factors in three of the final eight races. Heading to Sonoma, Byron is 162 factors again of Ryan Blaney in third place and 115 factors again of fourth. Given how the factors are awarded heading into The Chase based mostly on regular-season end, we really feel comfy saying Byron’s championship hopes are squashed in June.
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