Following an exhilarating performance on Saturday, Justin Allgaier triumphed over Aric Almirola in a 102-lap green-flag duel, securing his first-ever victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Despite having four second-place finishes under his belt at the 1.5-mile circuit, it was on this day that Allgaier finally took the top spot on the podium.
The win, celebrated as the inaugural triumph of the season, marks Allgaier’s 26th career victory and the 90th victory for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The reigning series champion skillfully maneuvered the circuit, finishing 1.067 seconds ahead of Almirola, who lost momentum attempting to take the outer lane with just over three laps remaining.
The turning point in the race might have occurred much earlier. Allgaier temporarily surrendered his lead to Almirola during a pit stop exchange midway in the final stage. However, Allgaier reclaimed his position in traffic on lap 152 and never looked back.
This victory has earned Allgaier a spot in the forthcoming Xfinity Dash4Cash race at Homestead-Miami Speedway next Saturday. He will be competing alongside third-place finisher Jesse Love, fourth-place Austin Hill, and fifth-place Sam Mayer. The best performer among them will walk away with a hefty $100,000 bonus. Notably, Almirola is not scheduled to participate in the Homestead race.
An ecstatic Allgaier expressed his gratitude, saying, “This whole team—I just can’t say enough. Aric and I were going at it. Hats off to him; he ran a heck of a race… It’s been special.” He also acknowledged the support of sponsor Brandt, who took the team to an Eagles concert the night before the race.
After seizing the lead on lap 152, Allgaier managed to gain a more than two-seconds advantage over Almirola. Despite Almirola’s relentless pursuit over the next 40 laps, he was unable to surpass Allgaier in the final laps.
Reflecting on his performance, Almirola stated, “You always hate to finish second, but Justin and that team was I felt like the class of the field today. I think that’s really the difference.”
The final stage was not without its share of drama. Rookie driver Connor Zilisch led the race on lap 100, only to fall back due to a speeding penalty during the stops on lap 145. Despite this setback, Zilisch fought back to finish ninth, the last driver on the lead lap.
Allgaier, who led 102 of the 200 laps, was followed closely by Almirola (51 laps led) and Zilisch (28 laps led). The top ten was rounded out by Brandon Jones, Ryan Seig, Harrison Burton, Zilisch, and Sheldon Creed.
Allgaier, having won the first stage by 8.262 seconds and finishing second in Stage 2, now leads the series by 19 points over Love. His victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway stands as a testament to his skill and determination, marking a promising start to his season.