Race Report: Daytona

Justin Allgaier and the BRANDT Professional Agriculture team were part of a JR Motorsports one-two finish on Saturday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, finishing second to Michael Annett. It was JRM’s second consecutive year accomplishing that feat in the season-opening event for the NASCAR Xfinity Series

The Illinois native rolled off the grid in the 15^th position for the 120-lap race. The main pack of cars went to single-file racing up top early in the run and Allgaier and teammate Chase Elliott tried to move down to create a line on the inside but were unable to get much drafting help. Allgaier ultimately took the green-and-white checkered flag for Stage One in 12^th. Under the stage-ending caution, crew chief Jason Burdett called him down pit road for four tires and fuel.

Allgaier started Stage Two from the 10^th spot on lap 38 and stayed in the top lane as it continued to have more momentum. By lap 45, most of the field was back to single-file racing. Allgaier remained inside the main draft and as the laps wound down for the second stage, he and teammates Annett and Elliott made a successful run on the bottom line to advance their positions. Allgaier finished Stage Two in seventh. During the caution to end the stage, the 32-year-old driver reported that the right front on the BRANDT Chevrolet started to give up on exit as the run went on and he came down pit road for right-side tires and fuel.

Taking the green flag for the final stage on lap 68 in fourth, Allgaier was up to second in a hurry as the high line got a better run. He was in third when a caution came out on lap 72. Under the yellow, the team called Allgaier in for fuel only. He restarted in third on lap 76 and moved to the top line into the second position behind Annett. The two stayed the top two positions for the remainder of the race through one more caution. Allgaier tried to make a move in the closing laps, but was unable to get there, crossing the line in second behind Annett, who captured his first career NXS victory. Coming in third was Brandon Jones, with Ryan Sieg and Austin Cindric rounding out the top five.

Allgaier will head to Atlanta Motor Speedway fifth in the NXS point standings, 10 points outside of the lead.

Justin Allgaier, driver No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture team

“Michael (Annett) did a great job. The whole No. 1 team, to see them get to Victory Lane, they’ve been trying really hard to do that. I’m really proud of those guys. I tried to get to him at the end, I thought we were going to be able to generate enough of a run to get there. Brandon (Jones) did a great job trying to help me. We just couldn’t get it rolling enough to get by him. We had a really fast BRANDT Professional Agriculture Camaro SS. It was disappointing not being able to generate that run, but it was really nice when we were able to cross the finish line one-two today. It was a great day for JR Motorsports.”