Justin Allgaier Saves Enough Fuel to Win Thriller at Charlotte Motor Speedway

3 years ago

Race 12 of 33: Alsco Uniforms 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Track Specs: 1.5-mile oval / 200 laps
Race Winner: Justin Allgaier

Allgaier’s Finish: 1st

Jones’ Finish: 9th

Berry’s Finish: 15th

Mayer’s Finish: 35th

Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 DeCA / Round Canopy Parachute Team / Unilever Chevrolet, scored the 20^th victory of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career on Monday night, making him just the 17^th driver in series history to earn 20 or more victories. Allgaier captured the checkered flag in the rain-marred 300-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway in dominating fashion, as the JR Motorsports driver began the day from the pole position and lead for a race-high 83 laps en route to the win. Additionally, with this evening’s triumph, Allgaier has now visited Victory Lane in seven consecutive seasons, making him the all-time record holder for most consecutive seasons with at least one victory by an NXS regular.

Race Rundown

Allgaier lined up for the 200-lap event originally scheduled for Saturday from the pole position following a blistering lap in Friday evening’s qualifying session. The pole was the eighth of Allgaier’s NXS career and his first since Pocono Raceway last July.
The driver of the DeCA / Round Canopy Parachute Team / Unilever Chevrolet looked to set sail from the drop of the green flag, as Allgaier held on to the race lead for the opening 20 laps before NASCAR’s scheduled competition caution was displayed on lap 20. While under caution, crew chief Jim Pohlman called the JRM driver to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel, however, contact while exiting the pit box with another car shuffled Allgaier back to sixth in the running order.
Then, just as the field prepared to return to green, the skies opened up as a heavy mist began to fall, forcing NASCAR to display the red flag. Following the short stoppage for weather, the race resumed on lap 31 with Allgaier poised to climb forward, as the Illinois native quickly rejoined the top five before making his way up to third on the final lap of the opening stage to secure a top-three finishing position when the green-and-white checkered flag was displayed on lap 45 and earn an extremely valuable eight stage points.
However, just as Stage One came to a close, Mother Nature again made her presence known, as a steady wave of rain fell around the 1.5-mile facility. As a result, NASCAR decided to delay the remainder of the NXS event until later in the evening when the NASCAR Cup Series action was complete.
When the red flag was lifted following a delay of over nine hours, Pohlman called the JRM driver to pit road for four fresh tires and a chassis adjustment, sending Allgaier back out for the start of Stage Two in the third position.
Once back underway, Allgaier held steady and remained inside the top three throughout the caution-free second stage, taking the green-and-white checkered flag in third on lap 90 and earning an additional eight stage points on the evening to bring the No. 7 team’s race total to 16.
Prior to the start of the third and final stage, Pohlman brought the driver of the DeCA / Round Canopy Parachute Team / Unilever Chevrolet back to pit road for another round of adjustments, four fresh tires and fuel. A strong stop by the crew saw Allgaier return to the track in the runner up position and remain there until the field was slowed for what turned out to be the final caution flag of the night on lap 127.
While under caution, and with the race leaders on the very edge of their fuel window, Pohlman called Allgaier to pit road for four tires and fuel. Lining up on the outside of the front row for the ensuing restart, the JRM driver went on the attack, as Allgaier needed just one lap to power into the race lead on lap 135.
Allgaier remained out front for the 29 laps that followed before relinquishing the top spot as fuel conservation came into play. However, Allgaier’s stay in the runner-up position was short lived, as the driver of the DeCA / Round Canopy Parachute Team / Unilever Chevrolet powered around John Hunter Nemechek and back into the race lead on lap 168 after Pohlman gave him the green light to pick up his pace.
Now back out front, Allgaier never looked back, maintaining his gap to second-place while saving enough fuel to lead the final 32 laps and earn the 20^th victory of his NXS career.
With the win, Allgaier has now qualified for the 2023 NXS Playoffs, marking the eighth consecutive year that the veteran driver has advanced into the postseason.

Justin Allgaier, driver No. 7 DeCA / Round Canopy Parachute Team / Unilever Chevrolet team

“What an unbelievable DeCA / Round Canopy Parachute Team / Unilever Chevrolet. To go out and qualify on the pole, and then back that up with going to Victory Lane is just a testament to all of the hard work that everyone at JR Motorsports has been doing. Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this No. 7 team gave me a great car all weekend, and it feels phenomenal to be able to get Jim his first win. This is just a really special victory for all of us. Now it’s on to Portland where we can hopefully keep this positive momentum going.”

Brandon Jones

Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 9 Menards/Bali Blinds Chevrolet, raced inside of the top five late in the final stage of Monday afternoon’s rain-delayed NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, before being forced to pit with less than 10 laps remaining for fuel, but was able to salvage a ninth-place result. With the result, Jones now has three top-10 finishes and two in the last three races dating back to Dover Motor Speedway.

Race Rundown

Jones started the 200-lap event from the fifth position after qualifying on Friday afternoon set the lineup for Saturday’s race. Jones slipped back to the 10^th position in the opening laps after battling a tight condition in one turn and a loose condition in the other. The competition caution flew on lap 20, allowing crew chief Jason Burdett to work on the No. 9 Chevrolet.
Pitting for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment, Jones restarted from the outside of row seven after a short rain delay. Jones slipped to the 18^th position following the restart and was able to battle his way back to 12^th as the green-and-white checkered flag waved on lap 45 to end Stage One. Following the finish, rain began to fall and forced NASCAR to postpone the event until after the NASCAR Cup Series race.
Jones ultimately restarted the race from the outside of row five and slipped back to 12^th following the drop of the green flag. Utilizing a never-give-up attitude, Jones battled back inside of the top 10 and up to eighth as the green-and-white checkered waved to end Stage Two on lap 90 and earn three critical stage points on the evening.
Pitting for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment to alleviate a tight-handling Camaro, Jones restarted from the bottom of row four and entered the top five following the start of the final stage. The yellow waved on lap 128 as Jones ran in the fourth position. Bringing the No. 9 Menards/Bali Blinds Chevrolet to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and another chassis adjustment. Jones restarted from the inside of row four and once again battled back inside of the top five on lap 135.
Slipping to sixth as the laps wound down, Jones was forced to pit road with less than 10 laps remaining as the team was short on fuel and could not make it to the end. Pitting for fuel-only, Jones cycled out to the ninth position and remained until the checkered flag waved on lap 200 to earn his third top-10 finish of the 2023 season.

Brandon Jones, driver No. 9 Menards/Bali Blinds Chevrolet team

“This team brought a really good Menards/Bali Blinds Chevrolet today and it showed with how close to the front we were for the majority of the race. We fought a tight condition once we went back green, but Jason (Burdett, crew chief) and this entire team made the right calls to put us in position for a great finish.”

Josh Berry

Josh Berry and the No. 8 Tire Pros Love the Drive Chevrolet raced to a 15^th-place finish in the marathon weather-delayed Alsco Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Berry, hoping to defend his race victory from a year ago, overcame starting at the rear of the field on Saturday to run in the top 10 before the rains came, and on Monday was in the top five for much of the race before handling issues and a late pit stop for fuel derailed his day.

Race Rundown

After qualifying the Tire Pros Camaro 14^th for the initial Saturday start, Berry was forced to the rear of the field after an adjustment to his power-steering unit. When the race began, Berry drove from 36^th position to 21^st in the opening 20 laps, just in time for the competition caution. Hitting pit road, Berry took four tires and fuel with a small adjustment for a loose condition and returned to the track.
Over the remaining laps of Stage One, despite persistent, spitting rain, Berry raced up to eighth place through a couple of stoppages for weather. At the end of stage, the rain moved back in and the red flag was again displayed. The race was postponed until Monday, with the Coca-Cola 600 being completed before the NXS event.
When action resumed Monday evening, Berry rolled off from eighth position to officially end Stage One and hit pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments. He returned to the race in 13^th after several cars stayed out. The stage finish added three points to his total for the day.
When the green flag once again was displayed, Berry needed a few laps to check out the balance and began to move forward. He broke back into the top 10 on lap 66, but the loose condition continued and he finished Stage Two in 11^th position.
Pitting again for four more tires and fuel, crew chief Taylor Moyer made further adjustments to help the handle on the Tire Pros Camaro. The pit crew responded with a solid stop that gained the driver four positions on the exchange, putting him seventh for the restart to the final segment.
When the green flag returned, Berry began to move forward, needing just three laps to move to sixth and another to ascend into the top five on lap 101, just past the halfway point. Running in the top five and within sight of the leaders, Berry clicked off laps until lap 130, when he came to pit road again for tires, fuel and adjustments. The loose condition had not quite gone away.
Upon exit, another car came out of its stall and speared the side of the Tire Pros Camaro, hitting it just behind the jack post on the driver’s side. Moyer enlisted the help of JRM teammate Brandon Jones for a visual inspection of the damage, and it was found to be not serious.
Over the next several laps, Berry dropped to seventh and reported that his handling had swung to the tight side. By lap 148, Berry had dropped to 10^th in the order and the tight condition was not improving.
Unable to mix it up with the cars ahead, Berry stayed 10^th and rode until lap 193, when he was called back to pit road for a splash of fuel to finish the event. He lost a lap on the exchange and wound up 15^th at the checkered flag.
The result dropped the Tennessee native one spot to fifth in series points, 85 off the lead after 12 races.

Josh Berry, driver No. 8 Tire Pros Chevrolet team

“This was a long weekend. First with the rain and mist, and then with the delay to Monday. The Tire Pros Love the Drive Chevrolet was fast at times, but we fought loose for most of the night. The incident on pit road, which could have put us in a bad spot, turned out OK. At the end, the last adjustment we made just put us too tight to do much at the end.”

Sam Mayer

Sam Mayer, driver of the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet, fought hard inside the top 10 during the rain-delayed event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday night before an incident in the final stage set him to have trouble with the right front for the remaining of the night and relegated the young driver to a 35^th-place finish.

Race Rundown

Mayer set the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevy to start the Alsco Uniforms 300 in the eighth position after a smooth qualifying run Friday afternoon. The rain delayed the start of the event to Monday morning which allowed a shuffle in the lineup for Mayer to move up to start sixth.
The 19-year-old reported that he had no rear stability and just felt as if he could not drive and be aggressive. A competition caution on lap 20 led the team to take four tires, fuel and a slight track bar adjustment. The rain started to flow and the red flag fell for a weather hold. After a few dances with the rain, the No. 1 finished Stage One in the 13^th position as another red flag fell and the event was pushed until later Monday night.
The Franklin, Wis. native came down pit road under the rearranged and delayed stage break for four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment that led him to start Stage Two in the 11^th position. Quickly breaking inside of the top-10, Mayer held strong finishing out the stage in seventh to earn four stage points. He reported he was starting to feel loose towards the end of the segment and crew chief Mardy Lindley made the call to pit under the break for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
In the green flag shuffle on the restart for the final stage, Mayer settled into the ninth position with 100 laps to go in the race. The driver of the No. 1 reported he was feeling a little bit free just when an incident took place in Turn 2, sending Mayer sliding across the track into the inside barrier. Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) pulled the No. 1 Chevy down pit road for repairs on the right front which ultimately gave the team issues for the remainder of the race.
The young driver fought to stay out and finish the race when a flat right front brought the Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevy back down pit road for four tires and some Sunoco fuel with 25 laps to go and ultimately settled for a 35^th -place finish.

Sam Mayer, driver No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet team

“It just was not our weekend from the rain to this finish. The No. 1 team brought an awesome car that should have run better but we will pick our heads up and move on to Portland. Super happy for my teammate Justin Allgaier on the win and hopefully we can put one on the board soon for JR Motorsports and this team.”