DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 25, 2013) – Justin Allgaier began his third season with Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) DRIVE4COPD 300 on Saturday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro. After qualifying 14th on Friday, Allgaier lined up right behind teammate Danica Patrick for the start of Saturday’s race. Even after sustaining major damage in a last-lap crash, Allgaier finished the day in the seventh position, his second-best February finish at the famed 2.5-mile speedway.

 

It didn’t take long for Allgaier to realize what a great car crew chief Scott Zipadelli and the No. 31 BRANDT team had prepared for him. At lap 31, the caution flag waved for an accident on the frontstretch involving two competitors. While under caution, Allgaier radioed to his crew, “This is the best Daytona car I’ve ever had. It drives like a champ.” Allgaier took the car to the lead at lap 50 with a push from Michael Annett to earn one bonus point for the day. Under caution at lap 65, Allgaier came down pit road, but before making it into his pit stall, he drove through oil on pit road and slid into the pit road wall at the pit box behind the No. 31 team. The car suffered major damage on the left front side. The team went a lap down while they took time to repair splitter damage and clear the left front of any tire rubs. After returning to green flag racing on lap 70, Allgaier raced to be the first car a lap down and received the free pass when the yellow flag was displayed at lap 86. Allgaier returned to the lead lap with a chance to contend for the win.

 

With three laps remaining in the DRIVE4COPD 300, the race was red flagged for 19 minutes, 52 seconds after a multi-car accident in turn two. After re-firing his engine for a green/white/checkered finish, Allgaier linked up with Brian Scott to push towards the front of the field. On the final lap, the No. 7 of Regan Smith was hit and turned by another competitor, causing a 12-car accident on the frontstretch. Even though the No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro was involved in the multi-car accident, Allgaier came home with a seventh-place finish.

 

“First, my thoughts and prayers are with the fans who were injured in the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway. I wish all of them a full recovery,” Allgaier said. “I really can’t thank BRANDT, my team and everyone at Turner Scott Motorsports enough for the great car. After I hit the pit wall, my crew chief [Scott Zipadelli] did a great job of guiding the team to make repairs to get us the best possible finish. We were able to overcome a lot of adversity and leave Daytona with a seventh-place finish, which is a great start to the season.”

 

The No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro team returns to the track this Saturday, March 2 at Phoenix International Raceway.