Reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Justin Allgaier led 102 of 200 laps and held off a challenge from fellow veteran wheelman Aric Almirola to win The LiUNA NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday.
Allgaier earned his first career victory in Las Vegas after four previous runner-up finishes in the desert, and the triumph was the 26th of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career. The 38-year-old from Spaulding, Illinois, now has wins in nine consecutive seasons after wheeling the No. 7 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet to the checkered flag.
“Aric and I were going at it, and hat’s off to him,” Allgaier said. “He raced a heck of a race. I’m just so proud of everybody on this Jarrett Camaro. I was really sad with the sixth-place qualifying effort, so to get here [in the winner’s circle] and have all the Jarrett folks here is great.
“I cannot say thank you enough and how proud I am of what we have here [at JR Motorsports]. It’s been special. I’ve been lucky enough to win a lot of races in my career, but this one means a lot.”
Allgaier’s advantage over Almirola shrunk to just a few tenths of a second after the final green-flag pit stops, but he took advantage of a late mistake of Almirola’s to cross the line 1.067 seconds clear of No. 19 car.
Today, the word of the day was discipline and not missing the bottom,” Allgaier said. “Aric had a fast car, and there was a lot of back-and-forth there a few times. I got lucky after the pit cycle and was able to get by him with some lapped traffic, and that was really the difference-maker for the race.”
Almirola fought hard, but came up short while notching his first career top-five finish in any NASCAR series in Las Vegas.
“I’m a little sour right now because I finished second — the first loser — but it’s a good finish,” said Almirola, who led 51 laps. “I just got caught up in some lapped traffic there that I misjudged. I wasn’t sure which way they were going, and he got by me. He just built such a big gap that I used my stuff up trying to get back to him.”
Allgaier won Stage 1, with Almirola taking Stage 2 before Allgaier took the lead for good on Lap 152. Pole sitter Sammy Smith led 13 laps and finished 14th.
Quoted and quotable: Media availability highlights
Pennzoil 400 pole winner Michael McDowell (28.883 seconds/186.961 mph)
On claiming Spire Motorsports’ first-ever pole and the seventh of his career:
“It’s just a testament to all of the hard work from everyone at Spire, and I’m really proud of everybody. This gives us great pit stall selection, a great opportunity to lead some laps and get some stage points and put ourselves in position tomorrow. No matter what, when you run wide open in Vegas, it’s scary. I know it doesn’t look like much, but it’s pretty wild out there.
“Poles are fun, and it is fun. Today will be great, and everybody’s going to go to the hotel and be excited and pumped up for tomorrow, but wins are what matter. So, tomorrow’s what matters. It’s a much tougher challenge to go win that race tomorrow, but that’s the goal and I think we’ll have a race car to contend.”
Las Vegas native Kyle Busch
On LVMS President and General Manager Chris Powell retiring and VP of Communications Jeff Motley leaving the speedway after nearly 30 years:
“Obviously, a great career for those two guys. It’s cool to see their tenure here as long as it’s been and as great as it’s been for the success of this race track and the peaks and valleys it’s been through has been really, really cool. Congrats to them. I wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors. It’s going to be neat to see whoever comes in next to keep this place going and keep it where it’s at or grow it.”
Las Vegas native Riley Herbst
On the importance of having Las Vegas on the NASCAR schedule:
“It is awesome. I think Las Vegas is such a big and unique town. There’s so many different things to do. I think the racing culture has grown tremendously, honestly, with myself and Noah Gragson growing up racing at The Bullring, too. That is really cool, and now with the Formula 1 race, a lot more motorheads are starting to come out to Las Vegas and be from Las Vegas, which is cool.
“Just the presence that Las Vegas Motor Speedway has in the NASCAR calendar – the race in the fall is huge because, I think, that can lock yourself in the final four. It’s really cool that NASCAR promotes Las Vegas – my home city, which means so much to me. Hopefully it continues to grow, and like you said, we get more short tracks, more dirt tracks on the West Coast and no more of them shutting down.”
