Phoenix Race Report

Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Camaro, nearly got his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the season on Saturday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway. The race came down to a late restart and he was battling hard for the lead on the outside when he was pushed up out of the traction compound and brushed the wall. Even after losing momentum, he still came home with a hard-fought eighth-place finish. The result is the first top 10 of the year for Allgaier and the No. 7 team after a challenging start to the season.

Stage One Finish: 6^th

Allgaier rolled off the grid from the 12^th position and steadily worked his way forward, moving into the ninth position before the competition caution came out on lap 20. During that run, he reported to crew chief Jason Burdett that the BRANDT Camaro was good on entry, tight center and was lacking right-rear security on exit, but that it started to get better as he ran. Opting to stay out under the caution, he lined up seventh for the lap-26 restart and raced his way up to fifth before ultimately taking the green-and-white checkered flag to end Stage One in sixth.

Stage Two Finish: 3^rd

After claiming five stage points, Allgaier took his BRANDT Chevy to pit road for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment during the stage break. A fast stop by the pit crew allowed the veteran driver to gain a spot on pit road. Using the choose cone, he lined up third for the start of Stage Two on lap 56 and was running in the fifth position when the caution flag came out again just a couple laps later. Staying out on the track, Allgaier restarted in fourth and improved his position to third on lap 63, holding on to the same spot until the green-and-white checkered flag waved to end Stage Two on lap 90.

Final Stage:

Under the caution, Allgaier reported that the BRANDT Chevy was really tight through the corners and freer on exit that run. The team took the opportunity during the stage break for four tires, fuel and adjustments to improve the No. 7’s handling. Another fast stop by the pit crew allowed Allgaier to win the battle off of pit road. He held on to the lead after the drop of the green flag to start the final stage on lap 98 and he was still holding the point position when the caution flag came out on lap 124.

The team debated whether or not to come to pit road, and ultimately led most of the field in for their final set of fresh tires. With some cars on differing pit strategies, Allgaier lined up third for the lap-129 restart. He continued to battle inside the top three through a series of cautions and after a restart on lap 154, he was in second and gaining on the leader when another yellow flag waved on lap 166.

Opting to take the outside line for the restart, Allgaier took the green flag in the third position and once again worked his way to second. He was holding a good pace as the laps wound down and would get one more chance to try to retake the lead when the final caution of the race came out on lap 192.

The field took the green flag with two laps to go and Allgaier made his move to the outside of the race leader, but he was pushed up into the marbles and made slight contact with the wall. Still, Allgaier continued to fight hard for position, taking the checkered flag in eighth to secure his best finish in five starts this season.

Justin Allgaier, driver No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

“That was a little disappointing there. We got to his (Austin Cindric’s) outside and I thought we had it and he just got me up out of the PJ1 and into the marbles. Unfortunately, the wall comes up quick when you’re above of the PJ1, but I’m just proud of everybody at JR Motorsports and this BRANDT Professional Agriculture team. We didn’t fire off the race the way we wanted to and we rallied. We had incredible pit stops all day and just made good adjustments and worked our way to the front. We learned a lot for when we come back here in the fall.”