{"id":56440,"date":"2026-03-07T22:18:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T04:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=56440"},"modified":"2026-03-08T09:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T14:36:14","slug":"allgaier-outduels-love-late-at-phoenix-takes-championship-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/07\/allgaier-outduels-love-late-at-phoenix-takes-championship-lead\/","title":{"rendered":"Allgaier outduels Love late at Phoenix, takes championship lead"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, and crew celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 07, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

PHOENIX, Ariz. – JR Motorsports\u2019 driver Justin Allgaier pushed forward when it mattered most, his No. 7 Chevrolet leading only the last 11 laps of Saturday night\u2019s GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway to claim his third win at the one-mile oval and take over the championship lead in NASCAR\u2019s O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series.<\/p>\n

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Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 07, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Allgaier had to pass the night\u2019s most dominant driver, Richard Childress Racing\u2019s Jesse Love to earn the trophy. Love came into the race with the best average finish in the last four Phoenix races and again proved how good he is in the desert, leading a race best 114 of the 200 laps.<\/p>\n

There were no caution periods in the opening two stages of the race \u2013 the first stage won by Allgaier\u2019s teammate Sammy Smith and the second stage won by Love.<\/p>\n

Two late race yellow flags however, bunched the field on restarts and allowed Allgaier\u2019s team to rally from a slow pit stop earlier in the night. The two former champions went door-to-door following the final restart with 15 laps to go, the 2024 series champ Allgaier ultimately besting the 2025 champ Love with a daring move on the outside and then holding him off by .449-seconds at the finish line to earn JR Motorsports\u2019 107th victory.<\/p>\n

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Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, and crew chief Andrew Overstreet celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 07, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cSo proud of this team,” said Allgaier, praising the team for overcoming a poor stop early. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t for lack of adversity and it seems like those are the ones that are big for us. I cannot say enough about this team.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt never gets old winning,” added Allgaier, who has now won at least one race for a record 10 consecutive seasons. \u201cThis team rallied and never gave up.”<\/p>\n

As encouraging as the night was \u2013 a stage win and fourth consecutive top-10 finish on the season for Love, the 21-year-old was understandably frustrated to finish runner-up after such a dominant showing.<\/p>\n

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Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Distributor Wire & Cable Chevrolet, and Taylor Gray, driver of the #54 Operation 300 Toyota, lead the field during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 07, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe car tightening up there at the beginning of stage three put us behind, so just frustrated,” said Love, noting that he refused to just walk away happy with a runner-up showing after such a strong effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously not why I\u2019m here [to finish second]. Just beyond frustrated with myself. I don\u2019t know what else to say, just upset, upset with myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The top finishing 14 cars were Chevrolets. Allgaier\u2019s JR Motorsports teammate Carson Kvapil, who looked strong midrace and led 22 laps, finished third, followed by Haas Factory Team co-drivers Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer.<\/p>\n

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Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Distributor Wire & Cable Chevrolet, and Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 07, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Sammy Smith, Jeb Burton, Rajah Caruth, Corey Day and Anthony Alfredo rounded out the top-10. It\u2019s the third top-10 of the season for both Smith and Day.<\/p>\n

The championship standings now mirror Saturday\u2019s outcome with Allgaier holding a three-point advantage over Love as the series heads to the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway for next week\u2019s The LiUNA (5:30 p.m. ET on CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Allgaier is the defending winner of that race.<\/p>\n

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Interview: Justin Allgaier (No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet) – NOAPS Race Winner’s Press Conference –<\/h3>\n