{"id":50385,"date":"2025-03-15T20:21:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T01:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=50385"},"modified":"2025-03-15T20:21:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T01:21:06","slug":"justin-allgaier-holds-off-aric-almirola-for-first-win-at-las-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/15\/justin-allgaier-holds-off-aric-almirola-for-first-win-at-las-vegas\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Allgaier holds off Aric Almirola for first win at Las Vegas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS\u2014On Friday night, Justin Allgaier saw the Eagles in concert. On Saturday, he was flying.<\/p>\n

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Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Holding off Aric Almirola over a 102-lap green-flag run, Allgaier finally claimed victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after finishing second four times at the 1.5-mile track.<\/p>\n

Allgaier\u2019s victory in The Liuna! was his first of the season, the 26th of his career and the 90th for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The reigning series champion crossed the finish line 1.067 seconds ahead of Almirola, who lost ground trying to run the outside lane with just over three laps left.<\/p>\n

The decisive moment in the race, however, may have come much earlier. Allgaier lost the lead to Almirola during an exchange of pit stops midway through the final stage, but he regained it in traffic on Lap 152 and remained out front the rest of the way.<\/p>\n

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Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

With the victory, Allgaier qualified for the first Xfinity Dash4Cash race next Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, along with third-place finisher Jesse Love, fourth-place Austin Hill and fifth-place Sam Mayer. The highest finisher among the four earns a $100,000 bonus.<\/p>\n

Almirola isn\u2019t scheduled to run the Homestead race.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was amazing,\u201d said Allgaier. \u201cThis whole team\u2014I just can\u2019t say enough. Aric and I were going at it. Hats of to him; he ran a heck of a race…<\/p>\n

\u201cRick Brandt (of sponsor Brandt) was here last night. He took us to a great concert, Eagles concert … Everyone at JR Motorsports, I can\u2019t say enough about how proud I am of what we have here. It\u2019s been special.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Xfinity Series The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After Allgaier took the lead on Lap 152, he opened an advantage of more than two seconds over Almirola, who spent the next 40 laps whittling the margin down to a car-length. But Almirola couldn\u2019t find a way past Allgaier in the closing laps.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou always hate to finish second, but Justin and that team was I felt like the class of the field today,\u201d Almirola said. \u201cWe were close, but they could just take off so much faster than I could. I think that\u2019s really the difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought my only hope was to cycle in front of him on the green-flag stop, and we did, but I just got caught up behind some lapped traffic there that I misjudged. I wasn\u2019t sure which way they were going, and he got by me and built such a big gap that I used my stuff up trying to get back to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, leads Sammy Smith, driver of the #8 Pilot Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Xfinity Series The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The green-flag stops in the final stage proved costly to Sunoco rookie Connor Zilisch, who streaked into the lead on Lap 100 and held it until Allgaier nosed ahead at the start\/finish line on Lap 127.<\/p>\n

During the stops on Lap 145, however, Zilisch drew a speeding penalty and served a pass-through that dropped him to the back of the lead lap. He rallied to finish ninth, the last driver on the lead lap.<\/p>\n

Allgaier led 102 of the 200 laps, followed by Almirola (51) and Zilisch (28). Brandon Jones, Ryan Seig, Harrison Burton, Zilisch and Sheldon Creed completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

Allgaier, who won the first stage by 8.262 seconds and finished second in Stage 2, took over the series lead by 19 points over Love.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NXS Race Winner – Justin Allgaier (No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet) –<\/p>\n

NXS Pole Winner – Sammy Smith (No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/NXSLVMSSammySmithPoleWinner031425.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Penn and Teller –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LVMSPennandTeller031525.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – The LiUNA!<\/b><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Motor Speedway<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Las Vegas, Nevada<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, March 15, 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

                  1. (6)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                  2. (11)  Aric Almirola, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                  3. (7)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                  4. (14)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                  5. (5)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                  6. (15)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                  7. (20)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                  8. (18)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                  9. (3)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                  10. (23)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 199.<\/p>\n

                  11. (21)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 199.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  12. (16)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 199.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  13. (17)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                  14. (1)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                  15. (28)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 199.<\/p>\n

                  16. (19)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                  17. (2)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                  18. (22)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                  19. (4)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 198.<\/p>\n

                  20. (9)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                  21. (12)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                  22. (30)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 198.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  23. (10)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 198.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  24. (13)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 197.<\/p>\n

                  25. (26)  Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 196.<\/p>\n

                  26. (27)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 195.<\/p>\n

                  27. (33)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 194.<\/p>\n

                  28. (25)  Patrick Emerling, Chevrolet, 194.<\/p>\n

                  29. (24)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 194.<\/p>\n

                  30. (29)  Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 194.<\/p>\n

                  31. (34)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 193.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  32. (32)  Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 192.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  33. (37)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 191.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  34. (35)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 181.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  35. (38)  Greg Van Alst, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                  36. (36)  Austin Green, Chevrolet, Alternator, 139.<\/p>\n

                  37. (31)  Mason Massey, Chevrolet, Suspension, 113.<\/p>\n

                  38. (8)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, Accident, 0.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  140.078 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 8 Mins, 30 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.067 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  3 for 18 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  7 among 5 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   S. Smith 1-13;J. Allgaier 14-48;A. Almirola 49-99;C. Zilisch # 100-126;J. Allgaier 127-144;C. Zilisch # 145;K. Sieg 146-151;J. Allgaier 152-200.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Justin Allgaier 3 times for 102 laps; Aric Almirola 1 time for 51 laps; Connor Zilisch # 2 times for 28 laps; Sammy Smith 1 time for 13 laps; Kyle Sieg 1 time for 6 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 7,19,1,88,54,8,21,2,41,39<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 19,7,88,8,41,1,54,20,00,2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service LAS VEGAS\u2014On Friday night, Justin Allgaier saw the Eagles in concert. On Saturday, he was flying. Holding off Aric Almirola over a 102-lap green-flag run, Allgaier finally claimed victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after finishing second four times at the 1.5-mile track. Allgaier\u2019s victory in The Liuna! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":50373,"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":[394,67,16,181],"class_list":["post-50385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-justin-allgaier","tag-las-vegas-motor-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2205287242-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-d6F","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50385","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=50385"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50385\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50389,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50385\/revisions\/50389"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}