Race 9 of 33: Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway
Track Specs: 2.66-mile tri-oval / 124 laps
Race Winner: Jesse Love
Smith's finish: 21st
Jones' finish: 33^rd
Mayer’s finish: 36^th
Allgaier's finish: 38^th  

Sammy Smith

The No. 8 Pilot Flying J Coffee Chevrolet made its third start this season on Saturday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway, and driver Sammy Smith secured the fifth position in qualifying for the Ag-Pro 300. In Stage One, Smith told crew chief Adam Wall his Chevrolet was extremely loos and that he did not want to push the limit and put himself in a bad situation. He bided his time in the 25-lap Stage One and pitted for adjustments. Smith patiently rode in the pack during Stage Two, waiting for an opportunity to make further adjustments. After pitting during the stage-ending caution, Smith quickly moved into the top 10 before drafting up to the race lead on the inside line. A caution came out with 48 laps to go and spotter Tyler Monn told the young driver he was doing a really good job working through the pack. Unfortunately, a speeding penalty on pit road during the caution pushed Smith to the rear of the field for the ensuing restart. Smith powered his way back into the top 10 despite a flurry of late-race cautions that set up NASCAR’s version of overtime. However, Smith ran short on fuel shuffled Smith backwards in the order and ultimately resulted in a 21^st-place finish.

“I really thought we were going to be up front when the checkered flag waved today. My team worked hard to get me comfortable on track and I’m grateful for that. The fuel game won in the end, unfortunately, but we’ll regroup for Dover next week and be ready to go.”

Brandon Jones

Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 9 Menards/Criterion Appliances Chevrolet, started Saturday’s 300-mile event in the 23^rd position. By lap 8, Jones had made his way through the field into the 12^th position. He would continue to advance through the stage, ultimately finishing in the top 10, earning valuable stage points. Jones restarted the second stage in 10^th position and after an incredible run was able to make his first appearance in the top five. A strong pit stop at the end of the stage allowed Jones to gain three spots on pit road and put him in position to start the final stage on the front row. With guidance from his spotter, Jones made a pass for the lead where he stayed for the next several laps. Unfortunately, while battling for the lead on lap 66, Jones was collected in a multi-car incident that severely damaged the Menards/Criterion Appliances Chevrolet and brought a sudden end to a strong afternoon for Jones. In the end Jones was scored with a 33^rd-place finish. 

“We didn’t qualify where we wanted to, but this No. 9 Menards/Criterion Chevrolet was fast and allowed us to move through the field quickly. With superspeedway racing you have to be aggressive and while we were able to lead a few laps our day ended sooner than we had hoped. This team works hard every day to put a great car on the track and I am ready for their hard work to pay off.”

Sam Mayer

Sam Mayer was in the midst of the battle for victory on Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway when he was collected in a 12-car crash entering Turn 1 in the opening laps of the final stage. His No. 1 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet was low on the track in an attempt to miss the carnage when a car involved in the crash speared the right side of his Camaro. The damage reached the rear suspension, and as a result the day was over for Mayer and the No. 1 team and he finished 36^th. The crash resulted in Mayer’s fourth DNF in the season’s first nine races. It also cost Mayer and the No. 1 team a shot at the $100,000 Xfinity Dash4Cash bonus, which would have been two prizes in a row for the 20-year-old driver. Mayer was working to a plan and was in good position to be there at the end when the accident happened, combining with spotter Kevin Hamlin to negotiate the traffic. Just a few laps before the crash, Hamlin had told Mayer that the bottom was the best line and the driver had moved up several positions before the accident ended his race.

“We made the choice to go to the bottom just a lap or two before the crash happened, and unfortunately, we couldn’t get away from it no matter what. Our First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet was really fast, it was easy to get to the front, but I made a couple of bad decisions in traffic that got us shuffled back. Overall, everything I learned since Daytona was really working today. I have to be a little bit better and we’ll be right there.”

Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet, ran solidly inside the top 10 throughout Stage One of Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Talladega Superspeedway. Taking the green from 16^th, Allgaier charged toward the front, drafting his way to sixth position before the completion of lap 4. The JR Motorsports driver held steady there in single-file line until the close laps of the stage, when Allgaier made his move. Diving low to lead the inside line, Allgaier appeared poised to fight for the Stage One win. However, as the pack exited the second corner, Allgaier was knocked sideway and sent hard into the inside retaining wall. The subsequent damage rendered Allgaier unable to continue. In the end, the Illinois native was scored with a 38^th-place finish.

“Our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet was extremely strong in the draft. Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this JR Motorsports team gave me a great car. It’s really unfortunate that we didn’t get a chance to really show what this car was capable of. But this group is a resilient group and I know that we will be ready to go next week at Dover.”