Atlanta Xfinity results: Nick Sanchez scores first career series victory

HAMPTON, Ga. — Nick Sanchez scored his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory early Saturday morning at EchoPark Speedway, as rookies took four of the top five spots in a race that was delayed by lightning and ended at 12:26 a.m. ET.

The 24-year-old Sanchez became the first driver to earn their first series victory this season. He gave Big Machine Racing its second career Xfinity victory.

MORE: Xfinity results

Rookie Carson Kvapil finished second to match his career-best result. Sam Mayer placed third. Rookie Connor Zilisch was fourth. Rookie Taylor Gray placed fifth.

Twenty-six of the 38 cars were involved in an incident, including Sanchez. He spun to bring out the caution on Lap 68 of the 163-lap race after contact with Matt DiBenedetto as they raced for sixth place at the time.

The race was delayed 1 hour, 18 minutes before the end of stage 1 due to lightning.

Shortly after the restart, a 10-car crash eliminated Sheldon Creed, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, Sammy Smith, Katherine Legge and Patrick Staropoli.

Stage 1 winner: Taylor Gray

Stage 2 winner: Brandon Jones

Next: The series races at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, July 5 in the Chicago Street Race.