Xfinity Series: Justin Allgaier ruled in Nashville

Bailey Defoor
2 days ago
5 min read

Written by Bailey Defoor

Credit: James Gilbert/ Getty Images

The king of concrete, Justin Allgaier, wins again in Nashville after dominating through all three stages.

As it unfolded

William Sawalich started on pole for the first time this season with Austin Hill on the outside.

Sawalich has a solid start, sticking to the bottom as he cleared Hill. Sam Mayer challenged for second but was passed by Allgaier while Hill got closer to Sawalich.

Jesse Love, Brandon Jones and Sammy Smith went three-wide on lap 4 for thirteenth. Love came out on top.

Another three-wide moment on lap 8 between Love, Christian Eckes and Connor Zilisch for eleventh. Once again, Love came out ahead.

By lap 13, Sawalich put some distance between himself and Hill while Hill began to look in his mirrors for Allgaier behind. Allgaier took second place on lap 15.

The first caution of the night comes with 10 laps to go in the stage between Parker Retzlaff and Kyle Sieg. K. Sieg got loose and Retzlaff was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Many front-runners decide to flip the stage and pit under the caution. Hill got off pit road ahead of Sawalich and Allgaier.

Six drivers stayed out, including Daniel Dye and Jone,s who took the front for the restart on lap 41.

Jeremy Clements, who started in third, got ahead of both Dye and Jones on the restart.

Allgaier also had a great restart after restarting in seventh, and made it into the lead on lap 43.

With one to go, Corey Day spins from 16th in turn 2. He kept it out of the wall and was able to make it to the pits unassisted.

Stage 1 Results:

No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)
No. 51 - Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing)
No. 99 - Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports)
No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing)
No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)
No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)
No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)
No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

The six drivers who did not pit with the last wave pitted under the stage caution.

For the start of stage 2, Allgaier and Hill lined up alongside each other, and they battled throughout the restart lap. Allgaier came out on top on lap 55.

The third caution came on lap 61 from Blaine Perkins. Perkins hit the wall at turn 4 and drove through the grass.

Allgaier and Hill lead the way again on lap 66, and Allgaier gets the jump for the lead.

Sheldon Creed, Hill and Zilisch go three-wide for second place on lap 67, and Creed takes the place.

Behind them, Taylor Gray, Ross Chastain, Carson Kvapil and Aric Almirola went four wide for fifth place. Initially, Gray had the place before falling back, and Almirola claimed the position.

Almirola chased down Hill in third and took that place on lap 76.

Zilisch and Hill battled side by side starting on lap 78. A couple of laps later, Zilisch passed Hill. Chastain also took advantage of Hill’s slow exit and took another place on lap 80.

Stage 2 Results:

No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)
No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)
No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)
No. 9 - Ross Chastain (JR Motorsports)
No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)
No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)
No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)
No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing)

After a round of pit stops, Creed got off pit road ahead of Allgaier and Zilisch.

Creed and AQllgaier led the way on lap 98, but immediately the fifth caution was thrown.

A checkup from the restart, mainly on the inside line, led to 11 drivers receiving damage from the stack-up.

Eckes hit the back of Harrison Burton, and it triggered a chain effect, collecting Jones, Ryan Ellis, Day, Jost Williams, K. Sieg, Ryan Sieg, Thomas Annunziata, Anthony Alfredo, and Kris Wright.

Ryan Ellis and Eckes had to retire on lap 99.

Creed and Allgaier line up for the restart on lap 110. Creed led from the inside and cleared for the lead off of turn 2.

On lap 113, Zilisch began to challenge Allgaier for second, going down the inside and making the move stick one lap later.

Creed got a little loose and Zilisch was able to take advantage of it as Zilisch moved into the lead off turn 4 on lap 120. Allgaier also passed Creed into turn 3 on lap 121.

With 54 to go, Sawalich spins out while racing for eleventh against Gray and Smith and brought out another caution.

The front-runners pit under caution, and Jones made up 13 places off of pit road with Zilisch right behind.

Jones had no new tyres and was immediately swallowed up by Zilisch and Allgaier on the restart on lap 140. Allgaier swept around the inside to take the lead as Zilisch kept at the back of him.

With 26 to go, Allgaier and Zilisch reached the back of the field.

Sawalich pitted on lap 168 to retire the car.

On lap 178, Chastain passed Almirola for fifth, but Almirola continued battling for the position back.

With 2 to go, Gray’s car began smoking. He made it back to the pits, so no caution was called.

Justin Allgaier, the king of concrete, takes his second win at Nashville and his third of the season.

With his win, Allgaier moves to the top of the standings, putting him nearly 100 points above Austin Hill in second, even though both are tied with three race wins this season.

Provisional Results