Almirola joined the team and took on a mentorship role at Toyota while racing a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule. He’d share the Nos. 19 and 20 Toyotas with three Cup drivers — John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell — as well as Ryan Truex and a slew of up-and-comers.

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman made contact racing for the win before Almirola nipped Bowman at the finish line to end a chaotic overtime in Saturday’s Xfinity race at Phoenix Raceway. Bowman finished second. Brandon Jones was third, Ryan Sieg placed fourth in a backup car and Justin Allgaier completed the top five.