Allgaier Recovers to Finish Third at Kentucky

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer

Despite early trouble, Justin Allgaier somehow found a way to finish inside the top-five at Kentucky Speedway. Allgaier scratched and clawed his way from outside the top-30 to the top-10 to begin the final stage of the NASCAR Xfinity Series VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300.

Allgaier finished third in the No. 7 Brandt Professional Agriculture Chevrolet Camaro after working the track position game all night long. He was as low as 30th, two laps down because of a flat tire. Some timely cautions and positioning helped Allgaier have what could be the recovery of the 2017 season. Amazingly, in under 45 laps, he regained the two laps and climbed from 30th to 11th when Stage 2 ended.

The trouble started less than 30 laps into the race, Allgaier’s Playoff hopes seemed to take a hit. A flat right front tire almost sent Allgaier into the turn two wall. His competitors took evasive action, darting outside and inside around his stricken car. Somehow, Allgaier made his way to pit road without getting hit and without bringing out a caution.

Allgaier admitted the night started out roughly, but was optimistic,

“It was a rough go there at the beginning of the race. We had a lot of speed in our Camaro tonight. We just fought track position on our way back up through the field. The guys on pit road did a great job and we brought a fast racecar. We may not have won the Playoffs tonight, but we definitely rallied and put ourselves in position for these next few races. Hopefully we’ll just keep digging and keep having this speed and we’ll have a great shot at making it all the way to Homestead.”

The third-place finish was the eighth top-five for Allgaier this season. After the Playoff seeding, he entered the race second in points, five-points behind his JR Motorsports teammate William Byron. Despite not earning any points in either stage, Allgaier leaves Kentucky tied with Cole Custer for the points lead.

Now Allgaier and his JR Motorsports team will focus on Dover International Speedway for the next race in the Round of 12 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.