A frustrating weekend for Noah Gragson was punctuated with a spin and an engine failure that led to an early retirement from Saturday’s Pit Boss 250 at Circuit Of The Americas.
Gragson was on the last lap of Stage one in turn 14 when the engine made a “weird whine pitch” before expiring, he told PRN.
A brief fire ensued and the car spun around, ending the day for Driver No. 9.
The No. 9 car of @NoahGragson is on the hook and done for the day after a spin at the end of Stage 1. pic.twitter.com/fPr7KjB8xo
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) May 22, 2021
The failure results in the Las Vegas driver’s fourth DNF of 2021, the second being associated with an engine problem.
The early exit also marks the fifth time this season that Gragson has finished outside the top 25.
Fellow Chevrolet driver AJ Allmendinger recorded the first stage win of the NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at COTA.
