Phoenix II NXS Race Report
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Report
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021
Race 33 of 33: NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race
Location: Phoenix Raceway (1-mile oval)
Format: 200 laps / 200 miles
Buford’s Finish: 33rd
Jade Buford and the No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers team were looking to end their season on a high note and were well underway when bad luck struck the team in the final stage of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway.
After finishing the second stage 17th, Buford was battling for position in the final stage when another car made contact with his No. 48, sending him into the wall. The contact didn’t cause too much damage but did cause Buford to lose multiple positions. When the caution flag came out on lap 125, the team was able to make repairs and send Buford back out on the track.
On the restart, Buford’s car got away from him and he spun, bringing the caution back out. He restarted 25th on lap 140 and continued to hold his own. A long green-flag run ensued, and Buford did his best to stay on the lead lap, but ultimately went a lap down to the leader. Not long after, an opportune caution flag waved, allowing Buford to take the wave around.
Back on the lead lap, Buford got the break he needed when an incident brought out the yellow flag once again on lap 188. The team took the opportunity to pit for fresh tires, setting him up to gain positions on the ensuing restart. He took the green flag in 24th with just eight laps remaining in the race, but the team’s bad luck returned when another competitor got into him, causing heavy damage to his No. 48 Spiked Coolers Chevy. The damage was too severe for Buford to continue, and he was relegated to a 33rd-place finish in the NXS season finale.
Jade Buford, driver of the No. 48 Big Machine Spiked Coolers Chevrolet Camaro:
“Tonight definitely wasn’t the way we wanted to end our season. We had a fast Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers and we probably had a shot at a top-12 finish, but our night just took a turn. I’m so proud of this team and the effort they put in this year. I’m already looking forward to 2022.”