Race Results 

Race 20 of 33: Pennzoil 150 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
Track Specs: 2.439-mile road course / 62 laps                     
Race Winner: AJ Allmendinger

Allgaier's Finish: 3rd

Mayer's Finish: 7th

Gragson's Finish: 10th

Berry's Finish: 14th

Paludo's Finish: 24th

Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture / Precision Build Chevrolet, scored a hard-fought third-place finish in Saturday afternoon's NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. With the strong top-three result, Allgaier has now finished inside the top 10 in 10 of the last 11 races dating back to Dover Motor Speedway in April and remains solidly second in the NXS Playoff Grid, 17 markers off of the series lead.

Race Rundown

• Allgaier took the green flag for the 62-lap event from the 10^th position after advancing to the final round of qualifying on Friday afternoon.
• Once underway, the driver of the BRANDT Professional Agriculture / Precision Build Chevrolet methodically worked his way forward throughout the opening stage, improving five positions to fifth before the first caution of the day was displayed on lap 14. While under caution, crew chief Jason Burdett called the JR Motorsports driver to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel.
• Returning to the track for the two-lap dash to end Stage One in sixth, Allgaier pressed forward, gaining two positions to take the green-and-white checkered flag in fourth on lap 20 and earn seven stage points to begin the afternoon.
• While under the stage-ending caution, Burdett made the call for Allgaier to remain on the track while the race leaders came to pit road. As a result, the Illinois native lined up in the second position for the start of Stage Two on lap 24.
• Restarting on the front row, Allgaier charged into the first corner and came away with the race lead. The driver of the BRANDT Professional Agriculture / Precision Build Chevrolet held on to the top spot for the four laps that followed before settling into third and remaining there until Burdett made the strategy call to bring Allgaier to pit road under green with three laps remaining in the stage for four tires and fuel.
• As a result of the stop, Allgaier returned to the track to take the green-and-white checkered flag on lap 40 in 15^th.
• Opting to stay out as the leaders came to pit road prior to the beginning of the third and final stage, Allgaier advanced up to the third position and held steady inside the top five as the caution-free final stage unfurled. 
• In the closing laps, the driver of the BRANDT Professional Agriculture / Precision Build Chevrolet battled wheel to wheel with the No. 92 of Ross Chastain, trading positions through each of the distinct corners at the 2.439-mile road course, before prevailing on the final lap to take the checkered flag in the third position.
• With the result, Allgaier has now placed seventh or better in 10 of the last 11^th NXS events and remains second in the NXS Playoff grid.

Justin Allgaier, driver No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture / Precision Build Chevrolet team

"It feels great to come home with a strong finish for this BRANDT Professional Agriculture / Precision Build team. Jason (Burdett, crew chief) and all the guys worked hard all weekend long and to pay it off with a podium here in Indy is great. I know there were a lot of folks out here this weekend from BRANDT and Precision Build, so I'm happy we were able to have a good, solid day for them. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going and be just as strong next weekend in Michigan."

Sam Mayer

Sam Mayer finished seventh in Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. After a rather uneventful first two stages for Mayer, the Wisconsin native went off course in the final stage after contact with Landon Cassill and returned to the track in the 13^th position. Mayer battled back, driving up to seventh as the checkered flag waved – his 11^th top-10 finish of the season.

Race Rundown

• Mayer started the 62-lap event in fifth following Friday evening's qualifying session. For the majority of Stage One, the Wisconsin native rode around in the sixth position while he monitored a vibration in the Huck's Market Chevy. When the caution flag was displayed on lap 15, crew chief Taylor Moyer called Mayer to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Mayer was able to race back up to the 10^th position as the green-and-white checkered flag ended Stage One.
• In Stage Two, Mayer settled into the eighth position as he maneuvered around a pair of spinning cars on the opening lap of the stage. He ran there until the caution flag was displayed on lap 27. Moyer opted to keep the Huck's Market Chevy on the track and they continued to run in the back half of the top 10 during the ensuing long green-flag stint.
• Mayer came to pit road on lap 37, opting for four tires and fuel before the end of Stage Two. The crew also gave him an air pressure adjustment to try and get closer to where they were running in practice the day prior. Mayer finished Stage Two in 18^th and lined up sixth for the start of the final stage.
• Running in the sixth position on lap 45, Mayer and Landon Cassill entering Turn One, causing Mayer to go off course. He brought the Huck's Market No. 1 back on course in the 13^th position and started to move forward. The remainder of the race stayed green and Mayer worked his way up to the seventh position as the checkered flag waved.

Sam Mayer, driver No. 1 Huck's Market Chevrolet team

"There are no easy days in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and we battled hard to finish seventh in the Huck's Market Chevy after getting off course in the final stage. Proud of the resilience this team has shown week in and week out as we've battled adversity the last few races to pick up some solid finishes."

Noah Gragson

Noah Gragson won Stage One and was a clear contender in the first half of Saturday's Pennzoil 150 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. But the No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber/ Black Rifle Coffee team's priorities shifted after left-front damage forced them to pit for repairs. However, they were up to the challenge with Gragson rallying from 34^th position to earn a 10^th-place finish by the end, marking the team's sixth top-10 effort in the last eight races and 14^th of 2022.

Race Rundown

• Taking a seventh-place start, Gragson launched to fourth on the race's opening lap. He was scored in seventh when the race's first caution flag flew on lap 16 and radioed the team that the No. 9 was "tight in the center of the corners and lacked some lateral grip and drive."
• Even with handling woes, the issues were manageable and Gragson stayed on track while the bulk of the field pitted under the caution. He cycled to the lead and held point over the final six laps to claim the victory in Stage One.
• Under the stage break, Gragson pitted for tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment and emerged in 25^th for the start of Stage Two.
• As the field funneled into Turn 1 following the Stage Two restart, the No. 9 sustained nose damage trying to avoid a spinning competitor. The damage was extensive enough that the team was forced to pit for repairs under the ensuing caution, just prior to the field going back to green-flag racing. As a result, Gragson was relegated to 34^th.
• Gragson maintained focus and drove to 20^th with the damage for the conclusion of Stage Two. Commenting that the overall drive of the No 9 was better, Gragson pitted a final time for tires, fuel and another chassis adjustment.
• He took the restart in 26^th and improved 16 positions over the 22-lap run to the checkered flag to claim the 10^thplace effort.

Noah Gragson, driver No. 9 Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber®/Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet team

"All things considered, it wasn't too bad of a day for our Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber/ Black Rifle Coffee team. It wasn't pretty, but to come out of it with a stage win and a top-10 finish, I think we'll take that and move on. These road course races can be a challenge when things don't go your way, but we were able to rally and get a decent finish out of it. I've got to give a big thanks to the crew and the spotters today. It was a team effort."

Josh Berry

Josh Berry, driver of the No. 8 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet, won his sixth stage of the 2022 season and battled inside the top five for most of Saturday afternoon's NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Using a different strategy than the front-runners, Berry ultimately raced inside the top 10 for the entirety of the caution-free final stage before contact knocked the JR Motorsports driver sideways coming to the checkered, resulting in a 14^th-place finish.

Race Rundown

• Berry and the No. 8 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet qualified in the eighth position during Friday afternoon's qualifying session. Berry remained eighth through a lap-14 caution period that saw the No. 8 Chevrolet pit for four tires, fuel and a slight air pressure adjustment to alleviate a loose-handling condition.
• Restarting eighth due to varying strategies amongst the leaders, Berry gained one position in the two remaining laps to earn four stage points with a seventh-place finish. Berry stayed on track during the first stage break.
• Berry restarted the second stage from fifth and raced into fourth before a lap-25 caution period bunched the field together. Once back underway Berry set his sights forward as he raced into the lead on lap 38 as the team used a different strategy than the leaders ahead. Berry would hold on to the top spot for the final laps of Stage Two to secure the stage win and earn the JRM driver 10 stage points and one playoff point.
• Needing to pit during the final stage break, Berry restarted from the 16^th position and quickly began his ascent up the leaderboard as he rejoined the top 10 on lap 46 and up to eighth by lap 50.
• Holding strong in eighth, Berry attempted to move forward one additional spot but was spun around while making the move, dropping the Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet to the 14^th position as the field crossed under the checkered flag on lap 62.

Josh Berry, driver No. 8 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet team

"I thought Mike (Bumgarner, crew chief) and this entire Jarrett Logistics team brought a really fast car today and it showed with how well we were running throughout the race. We were able to grab another stage win to pocket a playoff point which was great and will help us when the playoffs start in a few weeks."

Miguel Paludo

Miguel Paludo had a solid Pennzoil 150 going in the No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet on Saturday on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but contact from behind into Turn 12 dropped him from eighth to 33^rd in a single lap. The Brazilian native put his head down and rallied from 33^rd to eventually finish 24^th at the end of 62 laps.

Race Rundown

• Paludo qualified his No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet in the 19^th position for the event, but a flat-spotted tire forced a change before the race and he began the event in 34^th position. Over the first eight laps of the 2.439-mile course, Paludo had risen to 29^th, getting the feel of his No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet.
• As the 20-lap Stage One clicked away, Paludo climbed to 12^th position as the pit cycle shook itself out. Crew chief Jason Stockert called Paludo to pit road on lap 14 for four tires and fuel, sending his driver back out in 22^nd.
• Over the remaining laps of Stage One, Paludo drove back into the top 20. Under the caution flag, Paludo told Stockert that the front end of the car was finally back to where it should have been had the team not had to replace the right front tire before the race, and that he had the front end where he wanted it for Stage Two.
• On the first lap of green-flag racing in Stage Two, Paludo used the new tires to pick up three positions to 17^th, and as various cars had problems or worked strategy, Paludo climbed to 12^th on lap 25. Another mishap ahead of him put him 11^th a lap later as the caution came out again.
• When the race returned to the green flag, a nifty move in traffic put Paludo into the top 10 for the first time on the day at lap 32, and he advanced to eighth at lap 34.
• Stockert called him to pit road three laps later for four tires and fuel and to fix damage sustained on the left front. The damage caused problems for the pit crew and the stop was much longer than planned, dropping the No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet back to 33^rd when he finally got back onto the track.
• At the end of Stage Two three laps later, Paludo was scored in 32^nd place. Staying on the track while others pitted on the break, Paludo told Stockert that his handling was pretty good, and that he could put it where he needed to gain positions.
• The restart to begin the final segment had Paludo in 14^th spot and he held that until Turn 12 on the opening lap. A car behind him dived into the corner and knocked the rear end of the BRANDT Professional Agriculture Camaro, sending Paludo into a spin and doing further body damage. The contact dropped Paludo back to 33^rd position with 17 laps remaining.
• Facing a long climb up the order, Paludo needed just four laps to move up a position and was 29^th at lap 53. Over the remaining nine laps, Paludo picked off five more positions to finish the event in 24^th place.

Miguel Paludo, driver No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet team

"The BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet was fast today and we deserved a better finish than what we got. The strategy that Jason and the No. 88 team had in place was good enough for at least a top-10 and that was possible before what happened in Turn 12. I am so grateful to Rick (Brandt) and everyone at JR Motorsports for the opportunity to drive these cars, and I really wanted to get a great finish today."