Justin Allgaier won for the first time at Pocono Raceway on Saturday and made an emphatic statement as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season heads towards the postseason.
With the win, Allgaier has clinched a spot in the Chase, leading the standings by 250 points with seven regular-season races remaining.
On the final restart of the race, Allgaier chose the top lane and had teammate William Byron behind him headed to Turn 1. Byron shoved Allgaier’s Carolina Carports Chevrolet to the lead on the top lane, and Allgaier took care of the rest, holding off Sam Mayer and Byron for the victory.
It was the 33rd win of his career in the series and the fifth of the season, matching his season-best total from 2018. It was also his first on Pocono’s tricky triangle, giving Allgaier victories on 21 different tracks in the series.
The victory was JR Motorsports 11th in the season’s first 17 races, just six off the best full-season total in team history (17 in 2025).
“I have to say a huge thank-you to William Byron,” Allgaier said in his post-race interview. “Without him shoving me at the end of the race, it was probably game over. I’m so proud of this race team and everybody at Carolina Carports for believing in this team, everyone at JR Motorsports, Chevrolet, the Hendrick Engine Shop and all of our sponsors. This season has been special for the whole 7 team.”
Byron, driving the No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, finished third and helped push Allgaier to the top spot on both the final two restarts of the race. In Turn One on the final restart, Allgaier rolled the top lane to get past Sam Mayer and raced off to the victory.
Connor Zilisch, back in the No. 1 Roto-Rooter Camaro to defend his victory in last year’s event at Pocono, was around the front most of the race and challenged for the win late before finishing ninth.
Carson Kvapil, driving the No. 9 Registix/TRUCK CLUB Chevrolet, started sixth and finished 10th, his ninth top-10 finish in 17 starts this season. He also led four laps on the day.
Sammy Smith ran in the lead group all day but was caught up in a crash late in the race and rallied to finish 19th in his No. 8 O’Reilly Auto Parts Chevrolet.
Stay tuned to JRMRacing.com for more.
