{"id":44111,"date":"2023-10-28T19:45:24","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T00:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=44111"},"modified":"2023-11-13T10:55:53","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T16:55:53","slug":"justin-allgaier-avoids-last-lap-melee-to-win-nascar-xfinity-race-at-martinsville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/28\/justin-allgaier-avoids-last-lap-melee-to-win-nascar-xfinity-race-at-martinsville\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Allgaier avoids last-lap melee to win NASCAR Xfinity race at Martinsville \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer <\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service <\/em><\/p>\n

MARTINSVILLE, Va. \u2013 At the end of Saturday\u2019s chaotic Dead on Tools 250, Justin Allgaier rescued his season with an improbable victory that earned the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet a berth in the Nov. 4 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 event at Phoenix Raceway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag over Sheldon Creed, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Allgaier\u2019s Camaro crossed the finish line glued to the side of Sheldon Creed\u2019s No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, scoring his first win at Martinsville, his fourth of the season and the 23rd of his career  by 0.032 seconds over Creed, who needed a victory to advance to the title race.<\/p>\n

Repeated contact between Creed\u2019s car and the Chevrolet of teammate Austin Hill during two overtime laps eventually victimized Hill, the regular-season champion, in a chain-reaction wreck in the final corner and deprived Hill of a chance to race for the championship next weekend.<\/p>\n

Before the final restart, Allgaier\u2019s chances of qualifying for the title race had dimmed, as both Hill, the race leader at the time, and Cole Custer (seventh for the restart) had control of the final two Championship 4 spots.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Though Custer was collected in the last-lap wreck, which produced the 16th caution of the race, he was credited with a 19th-place finish to Hill\u2019s 21st and bumped the RCR driver out of the Playoffs by seven points.<\/p>\n

But no one benefited from the closing mayhem more than Allgaier, who got repeated encouragement from spotter Eddie D\u2019Hondt and crew chief Jim Pohlman during the late stages of the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of those guys kept telling me, \u2018It\u2019s not over,\u2019\u201d Allgaier said. \u201cComing to the start\/finish line, I don\u2019t think I saw a single person sitting down. I was just hanging on\u2026 This car has been lights-out fast all year.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, embraces the Ridgeway grandfather clock in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a shot at going for a championship at Phoenix. This is an emotional one. I\u2019ve wanted to win at Martinsville for a long time, and I\u2019ve been on the other end of that (pointing at the crashed cars on the frontstretch) too many times.\u201d<\/p>\n

The overtime restart was a recipe for disaster. Hill had lane choice and picked the bottom, with Creed lined up to his outside. Hill initially cleared Creed\u2019s Chevrolet, but the driver of the No. 2 Chevy used his bumper to force Hill up the track and draw alongside.<\/p>\n

As the cars ran through Turns 3 and 4 for the final time, John Hunter Nemechek turned Hill\u2019s Camaro and ignited the last-lap wreck that ultimately settled the field for the Championship 4.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, and John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Mobil 1 Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Creed, who is leaving RCR at the end of the season, was subdued but unapologetic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not proud of racing like that, but I didn\u2019t blast him,\u201d Creed said. \u201cHe was still with me (on the final lap)\u2026 I feel like I raced pretty fair for the situation, and he\u2019s going to be mad, but it\u2019s for a Championship 4 spot, and I\u2019m going to fight for my guys all the way to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

As might be expected, Hill had a different view of the final two laps.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, it\u2019s uncalled for for that to happen, and then for neither of the RCR guys to make it to the final four,\u201d Hill said. \u201cIt\u2019s frustrating. I\u2019m pretty excited for him to go to his next adventure over at Gibbs, and I don\u2019t have to put up with him anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, and Brett Moffitt, driver of the #25 AM Technical Solutions Ford, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

(Hill may have anticipated Creed\u2019s next move, which is yet to be announced.)<\/p>\n

Pole winner Sammy Smith, another driver in a must-win situation to continue in the Playoffs, led 147 of the 256 laps and finished third. But Smith also left Martinsville with a grudge against a teammate\u2014John Hunter Nemechek, who had clinched a Championship 4 berth on points by the end of the second stage.<\/p>\n

In Smith\u2019s view, Nemechek made it impossible for him to fight for the win in overtime.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were telling me that he wasn\u2019t going to make any enemies,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI asked him if he was going to choose the top, and he said he wasn\u2019t going to do that. I had a good run on him, and he went to block me down to the bottom.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Mobil 1 Toyota, Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Global Industrial Chevrolet, Sammy Smith, driver of the #18 Pilot Flying J\/Pringles Toyota, Sheldon Creed, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, and Cole Custer, driver of the #00 Haas Automation Ford, sit parked on the track under caution during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t want to make any enemies, but I\u2019m really frustrated right now. He definitely made one. I\u2019m not going to let that one go, and we will see how things go.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a race that started in daylight and ended under a full moon after a 28-minute stoppage to clear the track after a 12-car wreck on Lap 244, Riley Herbst ran fourth, followed by Josh Berry and Daniel Hemric.<\/p>\n

Parker Retzlaff, Anthony Alfredo, Jeb Burton and Parker Kligerman completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

Sam Mayer, already part of the Championship 4 by virtue of last week\u2019s victory at Homestead, was knocked out of the race in the Lap 244 wreck and finished 25th. Playoff driver Chandler Smith completed 187 laps before being sidelined by an accident and eliminated from the postseason.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

NXS Race Winner – Justin Allgaier (No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/MVSNXSJustinAllgaier102823.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Race Winning Team Owner (JR Motorsports) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/MVSNXSDaleJr102823.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Dead On Tools 250<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martinsville Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martinsville, Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, October 28, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

                1. (2)  Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                2. (8)  Sheldon Creed (P), Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                3. (1)  Sammy Smith # (P), Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                4. (4)  Riley Herbst, Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                5. (12)  Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                6. (14)  Daniel Hemric (P), Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                7. (10)  Parker Retzlaff #, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                8. (22)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                9. (38)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                10. (15)  Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                11. (19)  Layne Riggs, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                12. (26)  Rajah Caruth(i), Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                13. (34)  CJ McLaughlin, Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                14. (24)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                15. (11)  Myatt Snider, Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                16. (6)  Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                17. (20)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                18. (5)  John Hunter Nemechek (P), Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                19. (3)  Cole Custer (P), Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                20. (16)  Brett Moffitt, Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                21. (9)  Austin Hill (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 255.<\/p>\n

                22. (31)  Blaine Perkins #, Chevrolet, Accident, 255.<\/p>\n

                23. (18)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, Accident, 255.<\/p>\n

                24. (32)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, Transmission, 245.<\/p>\n

                25. (17)  Sam Mayer (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 244.<\/p>\n

                26. (29)  Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, Accident, 244.<\/p>\n

                27. (30)  Chad Finchum, Ford, Accident, 244.<\/p>\n

                28. (23)  Kaz Grala, Toyota, Accident, 243.<\/p>\n

                29. (33)  Joe Graf Jr., Ford, 240.<\/p>\n

                30. (35)  Chris Hacker(i), Chevrolet, Radiator, 237.<\/p>\n

                31. (25)  Connor Mosack, Toyota, Radiator, 232.<\/p>\n

                32. (27)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, Engine, 218.<\/p>\n

                33. (36)  Akinori Ogata(i), Chevrolet, Oil Line, 217.<\/p>\n

                34. (21)  JJ Yeley, Chevrolet, Accident, 207.<\/p>\n

                35. (13)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, Steering, 203.<\/p>\n

                36. (7)  Chandler Smith # (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 187.<\/p>\n

                37. (37)  Devin Jones, Chevrolet, Engine, 131.<\/p>\n

                38. (28)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, Accident, 40.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  55.294 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 26 Mins, 7 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.032 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  15 for 101 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  13 among 8 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   S. Smith # (P) 1-44;J. Allgaier (P) 45-64;S. Smith # (P) 65-123;M. Snider 124;L. Riggs 125-133;S. Smith # (P) 134-177;C. Custer (P) 178;J. Nemechek (P) 179-195;A. Hill (P) 196-205;J. Nemechek (P) 206-242;A. Hill (P) 243-253;S. Creed (P) 254;A. Hill (P) 255;J. Allgaier (P) 256.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Sammy Smith # (P) 3 times for 147 laps; John Hunter Nemechek (P) 2 times for 54 laps; Austin Hill (P) 3 times for 22 laps; Justin Allgaier (P) 2 times for 21 laps; Layne Riggs 1 time for 9 laps; Cole Custer (P) 1 time for 1 lap; Myatt Snider 1 time for 1 lap; Sheldon Creed (P) 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 7,00,20,21,18,78,98,19,16,91<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 18,8,19,2,26,31,16,00,9,98 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer  NASCAR Wire Service  MARTINSVILLE, Va. \u2013 At the end of Saturday\u2019s chaotic Dead on Tools 250, Justin Allgaier rescued his season with an improbable victory that earned the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet a berth in the Nov. 4 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 event at Phoenix Raceway. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":44103,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[394,407,16,181],"class_list":["post-44111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-justin-allgaier","tag-martinsville-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/GettyImages-1762202255-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1706&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-btt","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44111"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44118,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44111\/revisions\/44118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44103"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}