2017 Mid-Ohio Challenge
# 2017 Mid-Ohio Challenge

The 2017 Mid-Ohio Challenge was the 21st stock car race of the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 12, 2018, in Lexington, Ohio at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a 2.258 miles (3.634 km) permanent road course. The race took the scheduled 75 laps to complete. At race's end, Sam Hornish Jr., driving for Team Penske, would hold off the field on the final restart with five to go to complete a dominant performance. The win was Hornish's sixth and to date, final career win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and his only win of the season. To fill out the podium, Daniel Hemric, driving for Richard Childress Racing, and Matt Tifft, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The track is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside the village of Lexington. Mid-Ohio has also colloquially become a term for the entire north-central region of the state, from south of Sandusky to the north of Columbus.

The track opened as a 15-turn, 2.4 mile (3.86 km) road circuit run clockwise. The back portion of the track allows speeds approaching 180 mph (290 km/h). A separate starting line is located on the backstretch to allow for safer rolling starts. The regular start / finish line is located on the pit straight. There is grandstand seating for 10,000 spectators and three observation mounds alongside the track raise the capacity to over 75,000.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Wheeling Nailers |
| 00 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Haas Automation |
| 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | OneMain Financial |
| 01 | Sheldon Creed | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | United Rentals |
| 2 | Ben Kennedy (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Rheem |
| 3 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Screen Your Machine |
| 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | SEM Products |
| 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Allstate Parts & Service Group |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Brandt Professional Agriculture |
| 07 | Andy Lally | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Motorcrush, Branson Supply |
| 8 | Josh Bilicki | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | Prevagen |
| 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Axalta, Ambassador Supply |
| 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | LeafFilter Gutter Protection |
| 13 | Enrique Baca | MBM Motorsports | Dodge | Peak Antifreeze |
| 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | TriStar Motorsports |
| 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Lilly Diabetes |
| 18 | Regan Smith (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Matt Tifft (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Akron Community Foundation |
| 20 | James Davison | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Sport Clips Haircuts |
| 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Blue Gate Bank |
| 22 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | Discount Tire |
| 23 | Spencer Gallagher (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Allegiant Air |
| 24 | Dylan Lupton | JGL Racing | Toyota | Nut Up |
| 28 | Dakoda Armstrong | JGL Racing | Toyota | WinField United |
| 33 | Brandon Jones | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Menards, Bali |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | RSS Racing |
| 40 | Tim Cowen | MBM Motorsports | Ford | Cowen Logistics |
| 42 | Justin Marks | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | Katerra |
| 46 | Anthony Kumpen | Precision Performance Motorsports | Chevrolet | LeasePlan |
| 48 | Brennan Poole | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | DC Solar |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | BRT Extrusions |
| 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa |
| 74 | Cody Ware (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | Veterans Motorsports Inc. |
| 78 | Stephen Young | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | Wealth Recovery International |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | Racing with Jesus |
| 90 | Matt Bell | King Autosport | Chevrolet | Actev Motors |
| 93 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | RSS Racing |
| 98 | Casey Mears | Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | GEICO Military |
| 99 | David Starr | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

Originally, two practices were scheduled to be held on Friday, August 11. However, rain would force the cancellation of both sessions. Instead, a lone practice session was run the following day.

The only 45-minute practice session was held on Saturday, August 12, at 8:00 AM EST. Sam Hornish Jr., driving for Team Penske would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:25.695 and an average speed of 94.857 miles per hour (152.658 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 1:25.695 | 94.857 |
| 2 | 20 | James Davison | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1:25.705 | 94.846 |
| 3 | 19 | Matt Tifft (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1:25.981 | 94.542 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, August 12, at 12:00 PM EST. Since the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course, the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included two rounds. The first round was 25 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 25 minutes. Then, the second round would consist of the fastest 12 cars in Round 1, and drivers would have 10 minutes to set a lap. Whoever set the fastest time in Round 2 would win the pole.

Sam Hornish Jr., driving for Team Penske would win the pole, with a lap of 1:23.921 and an average speed of 96.863 miles per hour (155.886 km/h) in the second round.

No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time (R1) | Speed (R1) | Time (R2) | Speed (R2) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 1:24.357 | 96.362 | 1:23.921 | 96.863 |
| 2 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:24.608 | 96.076 | 1:24.870 | 95.779 |
| 3 | 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.932 | 95.710 | 1:25.052 | 95.574 |
| 4 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 1:24.811 | 95.846 | 1:25.173 | 95.439 |
| 5 | 19 | Matt Tifft (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1:25.059 | 95.567 | 1:25.358 | 95.232 |
| 6 | 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:25.008 | 95.624 | 1:25.397 | 95.188 |
| 7 | 2 | Ben Kennedy (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.946 | 95.694 | 1:25.533 | 95.037 |
| 8 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:24.988 | 95.646 | 1:25.569 | 94.997 |
| 9 | 00 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1:24.608 | 96.076 | 1:25.783 | 94.760 |
| 10 | 48 | Brennan Poole | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.979 | 95.657 | 1:27.846 | 92.535 |
| 11 | 20 | James Davison | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1:25.133 | 95.484 | 1:33.791 | 86.669 |
| 12 | 18 | Regan Smith (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1:25.215 | 95.392 | - | - |
| Eliminated in Round 1 |||||||||
| 13 | 07 | Andy Lally | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 1:25.353 | 95.237 | - | - |
| 14 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:25.440 | 95.140 | - | - |
| 15 | 24 | Dylan Lupton | JGL Racing | Toyota | 1:25.545 | 95.024 | - | - |
| 16 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 1:25.553 | 95.015 | - | - |
| 17 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:25.640 | 94.918 | - | - |
| 18 | 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 1:25.782 | 94.761 | - | - |
| 19 | 98 | Casey Mears | Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 1:25.853 | 94.683 | - | - |
| 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 1:25.976 | 94.547 | - | - |
| 21 | 42 | Justin Marks | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 1:25.989 | 94.533 | - | - |
| 22 | 8 | Josh Bilicki | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:26.308 | 94.184 | - | - |
| 23 | 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:26.332 | 94.157 | - | - |
| 24 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 1:26.369 | 94.117 | - | - |
| 25 | 33 | Brandon Jones | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:26.376 | 94.109 | - | - |
| 26 | 3 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:26.644 | 93.818 | - | - |
| 27 | 90 | Matt Bell | King Autosport | Chevrolet | 1:26.808 | 93.641 | - | - |
| 28 | 28 | Dakoda Armstrong | JGL Racing | Toyota | 1:26.889 | 93.554 | - | - |
| 29 | 13 | Enrique Baca | MBM Motorsports | Dodge | 1:26.898 | 93.544 | - | - |
| 30 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:26.911 | 93.530 | - | - |
| 31 | 93 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 1:27.138 | 93.287 | - | - |
| 32 | 01 | Sheldon Creed | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:27.207 | 93.213 | - | - |
| 33 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:27.250 | 93.167 | - | - |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||||
| 34 | 46 | Anthony Kumpen | Precision Performance Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:28.009 | 92.363 | - | - |
| 35 | 99 | David Starr | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 1:28.479 | 91.873 | - | - |
| 36 | 40 | Tim Cowen | MBM Motorsports | Ford | 1:28.482 | 91.870 | - | - |
| 37 | 78 | Stephen Young | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:30.587 | 89.735 | - | - |
| 38 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 1:34.973 | 85.591 | - | - |
| 39 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | - | - | - | - |
| 40 | 74 | Cody Ware (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | - | - | - | - |
| Official qualifying results |||||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 20

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 48 | Brennan Poole | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 8 | Josh Bilicki | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |

Stage 2 Laps: 20

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 20 | James Davison | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 07 | Andy Lally | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 42 | Justin Marks | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 18 | Regan Smith (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 8 | 2 | Ben Kennedy (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 48 | Brennan Poole | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |

Stage 3 Laps: 35

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | 22 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 75 | 61 | running | 52 |
| 2 | 6 | 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 8 | running | 47 |
| 3 | 5 | 19 | Matt Tifft (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 75 | 0 | running | 34 |
| 4 | 11 | 20 | James Davison | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 75 | 0 | running | 41 |
| 5 | 13 | 07 | Andy Lally | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 38 |
| 6 | 2 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 75 | 1 | running | 31 |
| 7 | 17 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 38 |
| 8 | 10 | 48 | Brennan Poole | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 40 |
| 9 | 21 | 42 | Justin Marks | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 33 |
| 10 | 28 | 28 | Dakoda Armstrong | JGL Racing | Toyota | 75 | 0 | running | 27 |
| 11 | 3 | 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 3 | running | 37 |
| 12 | 16 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 29 |
| 13 | 18 | 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 75 | 0 | running | 24 |
| 14 | 25 | 33 | Brandon Jones | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 23 |
| 15 | 14 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 28 |
| 16 | 34 | 46 | Anthony Kumpen | Precision Performance Motorsports | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 21 |
| 17 | 35 | 99 | David Starr | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 20 |
| 18 | 29 | 13 | Enrique Baca | MBM Motorsports | Dodge | 75 | 0 | running | 19 |
| 19 | 30 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 18 |
| 20 | 36 | 40 | Tim Cowen | MBM Motorsports | Ford | 75 | 0 | running | 17 |
| 21 | 39 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 16 |
| 22 | 26 | 3 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 15 |
| 23 | 40 | 74 | Cody Ware (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | 75 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 24 | 37 | 78 | Stephen Young | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 75 | 0 | running | 13 |
| 25 | 23 | 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 67 | 0 | crash | 12 |
| 26 | 7 | 2 | Ben Kennedy (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 67 | 0 | crash | 14 |
| 27 | 15 | 24 | Dylan Lupton | JGL Racing | Toyota | 67 | 0 | crash | 10 |
| 28 | 12 | 18 | Regan Smith (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 67 | 0 | crash | 0 |
| 29 | 22 | 8 | Josh Bilicki | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 67 | 0 | crash | 9 |
| 30 | 33 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 67 | 0 | crash | 7 |
| 31 | 8 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 67 | 0 | crash | 13 |
| 32 | 19 | 98 | Casey Mears | Biagi-DenBeste Racing | Ford | 64 | 0 | engine | 5 |
| 33 | 4 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 57 | 2 | crash | 11 |
| 34 | 32 | 01 | Sheldon Creed | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56 | 0 | running | 3 |
| 35 | 9 | 00 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 54 | 0 | running | 2 |
| 36 | 24 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 51 | 0 | crash | 1 |
| 37 | 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 51 | 0 | crash | 6 |
| 38 | 27 | 90 | Matt Bell | King Autosport | Chevrolet | 15 | 0 | crash | 1 |
| 39 | 31 | 93 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 9 | 0 | transmission | 1 |
| 40 | 38 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 5 | 0 | handling | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Elliott Sadler | 763 |
| | 2 | William Byron | 682 (-81) |
| | 3 | Justin Allgaier | 621 (–142) |
| | 4 | Brennan Poole | 581 (–182) |
| | 5 | Daniel Hemric | 567 (–196) |
| | 6 | Cole Custer | 505 (-258) |
| | 7 | Matt Tifft | 494 (-269) |
| | 8 | Ryan Reed | 457 (-306) |
| | 9 | Dakoda Armstrong | 431 (-332) |
| | 10 | Blake Koch | 431 (-332) |
| | 11 | Brendan Gaughan | 421 (-342) |
| | 12 | Michael Annett | 410 (-353) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
