Early issues for Anthony Alfredo, Riley Herbst at Phoenix

AVONDALE, ARIZ. – Anthony Alfredo and Riley Herbst quickly fell out of contention to win Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 200 as each of them had issues during Stage 1 at Phoenix Raceway.

Anthony Alfredo’s car failed to roll off for pace lap, prompting the team to push the car back to the garage. For 50 laps, Alfredo sat in his car – with the window net up – as his team diagnosed transmission issues with his car.

Alfredo’s team replaced a clutch and his car crawled around the garage area after the replacement. The team then replaced the driveshaft, which allowed Alfredo to begin the race on Lap 50.

Riley Herbst was running on Lap 21 when he crashed after “the brake pedal went to the floor.” Herbst started 21st and finished 38th – last – in Saturday’s race. According to LASTCAR, it is Herbst’s second-career last-place finish.