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2025 Explore the Pocono Mountains 250

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2025 Explore the Pocono Mountains 250
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 16 of 33 of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date June 21, 2025
Official name 10th Annual Explore the Pocono Mountains 250
Location Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 2.5 miles (4.0 km)
Distance 100 laps, 250 mi (402 km)
Scheduled distance 100 laps, 250 mi (402 km)
Average speed 103.722 mph (166.924 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 54.209
Most laps led
Driver Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 38
Winner
No. 88 Connor Zilisch JR Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network The CW
Announcers Adam Alexander, Ryan Blaney, and Jamie McMurray
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN

The 2025 Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 was the 16th stock car race of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 10th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent triangular-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 100 laps to complete. Connor Zilisch, driving for JR Motorsports, would make a late race pass on Jesse Love for the lead with four laps to go to earn his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, his second of the season, and his first win on an oval track.[10] To fill out the podium, Christian Eckes, driving for Kaulig Racing, would finish in 3rd, respectively.

This marked the first win for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a crew chief, filling in as a substitute for Mardy Lindley, who was serving a one-race suspension for improperly secured lugnuts found in post-race inspection at Nashville Superspeedway. Earnhardt would join a select group of history to win as both a driver and crew chief.[11]

Report

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Background

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Pocono Raceway, the track where the race will be held.

Pocono Raceway is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) oval speedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1970s. Nicknamed "The Tricky Triangle", the speedway has three distinct corners and is known for high speeds along its lengthy straightaways.

From 1982 to 2019, the circuit had two race weekends. In 2020, the circuit was reduced to one race meeting of two races. The first race was moved to World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis starting in 2022.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Sheldon Creed Haas Factory Team Ford Road Ranger
1 Carson Kvapil (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Clarience Tech
2 Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Whelen
4 Parker Retzlaff Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Finish Powerball
5 Kris Wright Our Motorsports Chevrolet FNB Corporation
07 Patrick Emerling (i) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Camelbeach Waterpark
7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet Carolina Carports
8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet TMC Transportation
10 Daniel Dye (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Champion Container
11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Alloy Employer Services
14 Garrett Smithley SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Priority Tire
16 Christian Eckes (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet LeafFilter Gutter Protection
17 Chase Elliott (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet HendrickCars.com
18 William Sawalich (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Soundgear
19 Justin Bonsignore Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota TW Cable LLC
20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Cheez-It / Menards
21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Global Industrial
25 Harrison Burton AM Racing Ford DEX Imaging
26 Dean Thompson (R) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota Uglies Kettle Chips / TPG
27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet Volpi Foods
28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford Shop Shades
31 Blaine Perkins Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet Werner Enterprises
35 Carson Ware Joey Gase Motorsports Ford Costa Oil
39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford Sci Aps
41 Sam Mayer Haas Factory Team Ford Audibel
42 Anthony Alfredo Young's Motorsports Chevrolet Clancy Relocation & Logistics
44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Members 1st FCU
45 Mason Massey Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Mongoose Power Solutions
48 Nick Sanchez (R) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Pickers Vodka
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet Alliance / All South Electric
53 Logan Bearden Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet KitchenAid
54 Taylor Gray (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Operation 300
70 Leland Honeyman Cope Family Racing Chevrolet LH Waterfront Construction
71 Ryan Ellis DGM Racing Chevrolet Sweetwater Construction
74 Dawson Cram Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet Realty.com
88 Connor Zilisch (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet Registix
91 Josh Bilicki DGM Racing Chevrolet Rita's Italian Ice
99 Matt DiBenedetto Viking Motorsports Chevrolet Pocono Mountains
Official entry list

Practice

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For practice, drivers were separated into two groups, A and B. Both sessions were 25 minutes long, and was held on Saturday, June 21, at 10:00 AM EST.[12] Justin Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time between both groups, with a lap of 55.138, and a speed of 163.227 mph (262.688 km/h).

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 55.138 163.227
2 20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 55.190 163.073
3 88 Connor Zilisch (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 55.194 163.061
Full practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Saturday, June 21, at 11:05 AM EST. Standard intermediate track qualifying was in effect, although at Pocono, a hybrid road course qualifying rule was used. The timing line was set in the North Straight, exiting Turn 2, where cars exited pit road, drove two-thirds of a lap, then took the green flag at the timing line exiting Turn 2, and completing their lap there the next time by. Teams then immediately pitted the car, meaning only two laps were run. In addition, up to three cars could be at the track at one time, separated by considerable intervals (about 20 seconds) to ensure drafting was prohibited.[12]

Chase Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 54.209, and a speed of 166.024 mph (267.190 km/h).[13]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 17 Chase Elliott (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54.209 166.024
2 20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 54.370 165.532
3 48 Nick Sanchez (R) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 54.414 165.399
4 18 William Sawalich (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 54.430 165.350
5 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 54.482 165.192
6 41 Sam Mayer Haas Factory Team Ford 54.525 165.062
7 54 Taylor Gray (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 54.531 165.044
8 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 54.584 164.883
9 88 Connor Zilisch (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 54.631 164.742
10 2 Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 54.638 164.721
11 99 Matt DiBenedetto Viking Motorsports Chevrolet 54.728 164.450
12 00 Sheldon Creed Haas Factory Team Ford 54.746 164.396
13 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 54.774 164.312
14 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 54.865 164.039
15 16 Christian Eckes (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 55.072 163.422
16 25 Harrison Burton AM Racing Ford 55.081 163.396
17 19 Justin Bonsignore Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 55.083 163.390
18 10 Daniel Dye (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 55.112 163.304
19 44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 55.120 163.280
20 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 55.125 163.265
21 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 55.155 163.177
22 1 Carson Kvapil (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 55.231 162.952
23 4 Parker Retzlaff Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 55.428 162.373
24 71 Ryan Ellis DGM Racing Chevrolet 55.461 162.276
25 26 Dean Thompson (R) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 55.482 162.215
26 11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 55.589 161.903
27 31 Blaine Perkins Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 55.647 161.734
28 42 Anthony Alfredo Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 55.676 161.650
29 45 Mason Massey Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 55.862 161.111
30 5 Kris Wright Our Motorsports Chevrolet 56.045 160.585
31 91 Josh Bilicki DGM Racing Chevrolet 56.151 160.282
32 14 Garrett Smithley SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 56.625 158.940
Qualified by owner's points
33 35 Carson Ware Joey Gase Motorsports Ford 57.203 157.334
34 74 Dawson Cram Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 57.541 156.410
35 07 Patrick Emerling (i) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 1:00.945 147.674
36 70 Leland Honeyman Cope Family Racing Chevrolet 1:40.496 89.556
37 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford
38 53 Logan Bearden Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Stage 1 Laps: 25

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 48 Nick Sanchez (R) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 9
3 88 Connor Zilisch (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 7
5 16 Christian Eckes (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 6
6 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 18 William Sawalich (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 4
8 00 Sheldon Creed Haas Factory Team Ford 3
9 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 2
10 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1

Stage 2 Laps: 25

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 88 Connor Zilisch (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 54 Taylor Gray (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9
3 48 Nick Sanchez (R) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 8
4 2 Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 7
5 16 Christian Eckes (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 6
6 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 5
7 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 1 Carson Kvapil (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 1

Stage 3 Laps: 50

Fin[14] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts
1 9 88 Connor Zilisch (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 100 34 Running 58
2 10 2 Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 100 8 Running 42
3 15 16 Christian Eckes (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 46
4 1 17 Chase Elliott (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 100 38 Running 0
5 5 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 100 0 Running 44
6 22 1 Carson Kvapil (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 100 0 Running 33
7 6 41 Sam Mayer Haas Factory Team Ford 100 1 Running 30
8 13 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 100 0 Running 37
9 7 54 Taylor Gray (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100 0 Running 37
10 8 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 100 10 Running 31
11 20 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 27
12 21 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 27
13 28 42 Anthony Alfredo Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 100 0 Running 24
14 16 25 Harrison Burton AM Racing Ford 100 3 Running 23
15 26 11 Josh Williams Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 22
16 19 44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 21
17 25 26 Dean Thompson (R) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 100 0 Running 20
18 2 20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100 6 Running 29
19 11 99 Matt DiBenedetto Viking Motorsports Chevrolet 100 0 Running 18
20 29 45 Mason Massey Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 17
21 4 18 William Sawalich (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100 0 Running 20
22 23 4 Parker Retzlaff Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 15
23 31 91 Josh Bilicki DGM Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 14
24 36 70 Leland Honeyman Cope Family Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 13
25 37 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 100 0 Running 12
26 32 14 Garrett Smithley SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 11
27 38 53 Logan Bearden Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 100 0 Running 10
28 3 48 Nick Sanchez (R) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 26
29 27 31 Blaine Perkins Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 8
30 35 07 Patrick Emerling (i) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 0
31 18 10 Daniel Dye (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 6
32 24 71 Ryan Ellis DGM Racing Chevrolet 100 0 Running 5
33 34 74 Dawson Cram Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 99 0 Running 4
34 33 35 Carson Ware Joey Gase Motorsports Ford 99 0 Running 3
35 14 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 96 0 Running 3
36 12 00 Sheldon Creed Haas Factory Team Ford 88 0 Accident 4
37 30 5 Kris Wright Our Motorsports Chevrolet 69 0 Suspension 1
38 17 19 Justin Bonsignore Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7 0 Engine 1
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2025 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  2. ^ "Pocono Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  3. ^ "2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Pocono Raceway Race Page". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  4. ^ "Entry list" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  5. ^ "Practice Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  6. ^ "Qualifying Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  7. ^ "Starting lineup" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  8. ^ "Race Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  9. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  10. ^ "Connor Zilisch wins Xfinity race at Pocono with Dale Earnhardt Jr. serving as crew chief". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  11. ^ Taranto, Steven (June 21, 2025). "Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins in his first race as a NASCAR crew chief in Xfinity Series one-off at Pocono". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  12. ^ a b "NASCAR Xfinity Series 2025 Practice and Qualifying Procedures". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  13. ^ Srigley, Joseph (June 21, 2025). "Chase Elliott Collects First Xfinity Series Pole Since 2014 at Pocono". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  14. ^ "2025 Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
Previous race:
2025 The Chilango 150
NASCAR Xfinity Series
2025 season
Next race:
2025 Focused Health 250 (Atlanta)