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SportsCasting
SportsCasting
Jeff Hawkins

NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans React To Justin Allgaier's Rally To Clinch Title

After parts of 14 seasons and seven trips to the Championship 4 race, Justin Allgaier completed what appeared to be an improbable comeback to earn his first NASCAR Xfinity Series title. 

With 75 laps remaining Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway, most industry insiders counted Allgaier out of the Championship 4 competition. 

“I tried to give it away every way I could,” Allgaier told CW Sports. “I just wanted to make it exciting for all you fans.”  

Overcoming several hurdles, including a restart violation and speeding penalty, the 38-year-old pilot earned a second-place finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race to clinch the circuit pennant in double overtime for JR Motorsports. Riley Herbst earned the race victory. 

How many times did Allgaier count himself out? 

“Like 10 times,” he said. “It’s mindblowing … it’s mindblowing, it really is.” 

Since taking command of the No. 7 Chevrolet in 2016, Allgaier has compiled 22 wins. 

Few, if any, were more interesting than Saturday’s. 

“I’m at a loss for words, and we’re going to celebrate this one, for sure,” Allgaier said, as reported by NASCAR.com. “It’s unbelievable, but I just cannot say thank you enough to everybody that’s ever helped me in my career to get to this point.”  

X (Twitter) users responded to the way Allgaier rallied to seal the series championship in the desert. Allgaier’s parents reacted with pure joy …   

Jr. watched with pride … 

In the first overtime, Allgaier discovered a groove and went from P6 to P2 in about a quarter mile, passing final four drivers Cole Custer, the defending champion, and Austin Hill, who made his first Championship 4 appearance. Allgaier’s initial bid was spoiled when Parker Retzlaff crashed … 

In the second overtime, Allgaier started P2, with Hill P6, Custer P7 and AJ Allmendinger, the other title contender, P10. Jesse Love led the field to green as several of the leaders’ machines came together, but no one lost control. Herbst passed Allgaier on Lap 213 and held on for his third career win … 

The championship action started on Friday with Connor Zilisch clinching an ARCA Series victory … 

The action continued Friday night with Ty Majeski capturing the Truck Series title … 

Layne Riggs captured the Truck Series’ top first-year driver honor, aided by rookie crew chief Dylan Cappello … 

Allgaier drove a backup car after a practice-lap crash. Allgaier commanded the spring race at Phoenix, leading by nearly three seconds with three laps remaining. Suddenly, the left-rear tire went flat, causing Allgaier’s machine to spin and hit the wall. Allgaier reached out for pre-race advice from team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. …  

On Saturday night, the engines were fired up for the final time this season … 

The start of the Xfinity Series’ finale … 

Hill complained of a flashing water temperature gauge, but remained in contention until the end. Did he attempt to tape up the problem? … 

Anthony Alfredo (5) endured a NASCAR penalty flag on Lap 67…

Allmendinger, who was forced to start from the rear after the team executed unapproved adjustments to the machine’s breaks, continued struggling with his machine throughout the final. “We got what we got,” he said on his team radio …  

After Herbst earned the opening stage win, but a rub from Allgaier on Lap 86 didn’t hold him back from claiming Stage 2, too. When Herbst pitted on Lap 145, he had a 5.35-second lead over Custer … 

Allgaier’s championship aspirations appeared bleak after getting nabbed for speeding on his pass through on Lap 102. But after Alfredo hit the wall 53 laps later, he got back on the lead lap after not pitting … 

Allgaier, in the process of his title-winning comeback … 

In deflating news. Thank you, Bobby Allison… 

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