Justin Allgaier wins first NASCAR Xfinity title, capping his comeback by passing Hill and Custer late
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Justin Allgaier won his first championship of the NASCAR Xfinity season Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway, making a stunning comeback after losing a lap midway through the race.
Allgaier moved up the field and passed Austin Hill and Cole Custer on an overtime restart with two laps remaining. Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet took out four tires during its pit stop before overtime, including two new ones on its right side, before passing Hill and Custer on the restart.
After Allgaier made the pass, a crash occurred, leading to another caution, but the JR Motorsports driver survived the final restart to win a long-awaited title.
“It’s mind-blowing, it really is,” Allgaier said. “We tried to distribute it any way we could.”
Allgaier, 38, finished second in the Riley Herbst race, but that didn’t matter because he beat the three other championship finalists: Custer was eighth, AJ Allmendinger was ninth and Hill was 10th.
It’s a big moment for Allgaier, who has won 25 Xfinity races in his career but has never won a championship despite finishing seven times in the last nine years. He finished second in 2020 and 2023.
Allgaier had an eventful evening, starting from the back of the field after moving to a backup car due to an accident during Friday practice. Regardless, he quickly climbed the standings early in the race and it only took him 26 laps to break into the top 10.
But Allgaier ran into trouble midway through the race when his left rear tire began to lose air following contact with Herbst. Allgaier lost a few positions, but was able to cross the end of the second stage in 10th place.
His championship hopes seemed dashed on the ensuing restart, when he received back-to-back penalties for an incorrect restart and then speeding on pit road. That put him a lap behind the field, but he got back into the lead lap after a well-timed caution when Anthony Alfredo crashed into the wall.
Having been given new life, Allgaier methodically moved up the field before Hill and Custer’s crucial pass with two laps remaining.
Allmendinger also started from the back of the field because he changed brakes after qualifying. He moved up to the middle of the pack fairly quickly, but struggled with his car for much of the night. Custer was in position to win back-to-back Xfinity titles for much of the night, but he couldn’t hang on to Allgaier’s fast car in the closing laps.
Herbst also won the first two stages, both of which lasted 45 laps.
Both Custer and Allmendinger advance to the Cup Series next season.
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