Allgaier Falls Just Short of Another Dover Victory for JRM

May 18, 2026

Race 14 of 33: BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway
Track Specs: 1-mile concrete oval/200 laps
Race Winner: Corey Day
Allgaier’s finish: 2nd
Kvapil’s finish: 7th
Smith’s finish: 9th
Caruth’s finish: 13th
Chastain’s finish: 14th

Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet, came within four laps of victory on Saturday afternoon before ultimately taking the checkered flag in the runner-up position in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Dover Motor Speedway. Allgaier, who led a race-high 71 laps on the day, raced wheel-to-wheel with Corey Day for the top spot in the closing laps before coming home with his eighth top-three finish of the season. With today’s second-place effort, Allgaier extends his lead in the championship standings to 175 points over the field as the NOAPS heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway next weekend.

“Man, we came close today. Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) made some great calls throughout the day and put us in a great position to get up front and be in position to fight for the win. It’s really unfortunate that we didn’t come away with the win in the end, bit I can’t say enough about everyone on this BRANDT Professional Agriculture team. We were ablet to gain some more points today, which is great. Now we will get ready for next weekend and hopefully we can be one spot better in Charlotte.”

Carson Kvapil

Carson Kvapil, driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, started in the seventh position for the BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Kvapil was fighting a tight-handling car from the drop of the green flag and held strong to finish the first stage in sixth. After a round of pit stop and adjustments, the handling of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet was improved. The second stage started and Kvapil continued to maintain his top-10 running position. When the green-and-white-checkered flag waved at the end of the second stage, Kvapil was scored in the sixth position. During the final stage, the JR Motorsports driver continued to battle and worked his way into the top five, but in the end, Kvapil crossed the finish line for the final time in seventh.

“Today was a solid showing for the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops team. Rodney (Childers, crew chief) and the entire No. 1 team improved the car all afternoon. We didn’t get the finish we wanted, but we will continue working and be read to get to Charlotte next weekend. I can’t thank Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops for their continued support and we will keep putting in the work to get them the finishes they deserve.

Sammy Smith

Sammy Smith, driver of the No. 8 Arby’s BBQ Chevrolet, qualified 18th for the BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon. After 200 laps around The Monster Mile, Smith brought home a ninth-place finish and is sixth in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series point standings.

Stage One saw Smith gain five positions by the time the first caution of the day waved on lap 12. The JR Motorsports driver held 13th until the last several laps when his car started plowing tight, so he backed off a bit to save his right-front tire. Smith crossed the line in 16th on lap 45. Crew chief Cory Shea called Smith down pit road for fresh tires, fuel and a track-bar adjustment to help free up the handling. The field took the green for Stage Two on lap 54 with Smith in 16th. Another caution came on lap 61 as Smith worked his way up to 14th. The field raced caution free for the remaining 30 laps and Smith took the green-and-white-checkered flag in 16th again, saying he needed help getting through the turns. Shea made a call for a wedge adjustment to free it up as they headed for the final stage.

Smith started 15th for the final stage and after the second caution in the first 13 laps, he fought to 11th and reported that the adjustments were headed in the right direction. Immediately following the restart, the field was under caution once again and Shea again called his driver to pit road. Smith asked for another adjustment to free up his Arby’s BBQ Chevrolet a bit more. Through three more cautions in the remaining 70 laps, Smith went through a final pit stop on lap 160 to bolt on scuffed tires, a splash of fuel and an adjustment. Smith was up on the wheel as he powered from 19th to inside the top 10 in the last 40 laps. Smith brought home a ninth-place finish in the Arby’s BBQ Chevrolet.

“This No. 8 Arby’s BBQ Chevrolet was good at the end of the race, we just started the day way too tight. I’m glad we were able to get a top-10 today for Arby’s and appreciate this whole team. I’m looking forward to racing at home next week in Charlotte and seeing what we have for them.”

Rajah Caruth

Rajah Caruth, driver of the No. 88 HencrickCars.com Chevrolet, qualified third for his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start with JR Motorsports Saturday afternoon at Dover Motor Speedway. After avoiding an early on-track accident, Caruth maintained his position within the top five for the remainder of the first stage. After gaining two spots on pit road, the JR Motorsports driver started the second stage from third position. Working his way up, he ended the stage in the runner-up position after battling teammate Ross Chastain for the lead. After lining up for the final stage in second, the young driver was involved in an on-track incident in the opening laps but was able to continue with no damage. Unfortunately, after another incident on lap 112, the No. 88 sustained damage and had to pit for repairs, causing him to go a lap down. He would later regain his lap and work his through the field to 14th at the finish.

“We qualified really well, and I just wish we could have kept that consistency through the whole race. This No. 88 team works very hard every week to bring me a fast race car and I’m going to keep working to get them the finish they deserve.”

Ross Chastain:

Ross Chastain led the field to green at Dover Motor Speedway for his first time this season with JR Motorsports and, after leading the majority of the first 45 laps, took the first green-and-white checkered flag in the second position. After winning the race off pit road, Chastain would once again lead the field to green and took the second green-and-white-checkered flag in first. After an unfortunate incident on lap 119, Chastain sustained damage to his Chevrolet and had to pit multiple times for repairs. The veteran driver fought hard for the remainder of the 200-lap event and ultimately finished just outside the top 10 in 13th position.

“This No. 9 Roto-Rooter team gave me a fast racecar and it felt great to put it on the pole. We were battling for it there and I wish I could have given them the finish they deserved. I’m looking forward to working with them again in Charlotte next weekend and hopefully we will be in contention at the end.”