Allgaier Finishes 11th at Atlanta Motor Speedway

The NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) made its one and only stop of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) for a Saturday night, Labor Day weekend race. The weekend began with the first practice session on Friday evening under cloudy conditions. The final practice session of the weekend was held on Saturday morning, before qualifying followed in the afternoon.  Justin Allgaier and the Wolf Pack Energy Services team ran a total of 67 laps between the two practice sessions which earned them a qualifying spot of 21st out of 40 cars. Saturday’s qualifying session experienced a brief delay after a quick rain shower over the 1.54-mile track. Allgaier laid down a lap time of 31.198 seconds which put him in the 14th-starting spot for the Great Clips/Grit Chips 300. After maintaining a top-15 position all night during the 195-lap race, Allgaier brought his No. 31 Wolf Pack Energy Services Chevrolet Camaro home in the 11th position for Turner Scott Motorsports.  

 

Allgaier took the green flag on Saturday night under warm and humid conditions at the Hampton, Ga. track. He quickly worked his way up to the 10th position on lap 5. After settling into a race pace, Allgaier was in the 12th position when he radioed to crew chief Scott Zipadelli that he was lacking grip on lap 23. Allgaier was able to advance his position to the 11th spot when the first caution of the race came out at lap 36 for an accident on the backstretch. Zipadelli made the call for Allgaier to bring his No. 31 Wolf Pack Energy Services Chevy down pit road for Sunoco fuel, four Goodyear tires and adjustments. After a great pit stop by the Wolf Pack Energy Services pit crew, Allgaier restarted in the ninth position on lap 40. It wasn’t long before the second caution of the race came out at lap 43 with Allgaier in the 11th position. Zipadelli told Allgaier to stay out on the track since he had been on pit road just a few laps before the second caution.

 

Allgaier restarted in the 11th position on lap 48 and worked his way up to the 10th position on lap 59. Allgaier relayed to Zipadelli that his car was leaps and bounds better after the last set of changes. Allgaier continued to work the race track until his first green-flag pit stop of the evening at lap 92 when he came down pit road for fuel, four tires and adjustments. After the green-flag pit stops cycled through, Allgaier was scored in the 14th position. On lap 103, the third caution of the race came out and Allgaier told Zipadelli he was saving his tires as much as he could. Zipadelli made the call for Allgaier to stay out on the track and he restarted 14th on lap 108. Allgaier worked his way up to 10th on lap 110. During the second long green-flag run of the race, Allgaier reported on lap 142 that he was tight in the center and loose off. Allgaier came down pit road for his third and final pit stop of the night at lap 148 for fuel, four tires and adjustments. After green-flag pit stops cycled through, Allgaier was in the 12th position. As the green-flag laps continued, Allgaier went one lap down on lap 172 when he was passed by race leader Kevin Harvick. When the fourth and final caution flew at lap 181 for an accident on the frontstretch, Allgaier took the wave around, which put him back on the lead lap for the remaining laps of the 195-lap race. After restarting in the 11th position on lap 188, Allgaier was able to maintain the position in his No. 31 Wolf Pack Energy Services Chevy until the checkered flag flew. With Allgaier’s 11th-place finish Saturday night at AMS, he’s currently fifth in the NNS Driver Point Standings.

 

“It was a hot and slick night at Atlanta [Motor Speedway],” said Allgaier. “Track position was very important with all of the long green-flag runs. We finished 11th and built a little buffer on our points position. I’m looking forward to Richmond [International Raceway] and getting back to a little short-track racing under the lights.”

 

The NNS heads to Richmond International Raceway Friday night for the Virginia529 College Savings 250. Television coverage begins with NNS Countdown on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.  

 

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