Race Report: Iowa

Justin Allgaier and the BRANDT Professional Agriculture team earned their second consecutive top-five finish, placing third in Sunday’s CircuitCity.com 250 at Iowa Speedway. It was their seventh top-five effort overall in 14 races this season. The strong finish allowed Allgaier to move up one spot to fourth in the NACAR Xfinity Series point standings, just 122 markers outside the lead.

Rolling off the grid in the 14^th position for the race, Allgaier wasted no time working his way forward. The Illinois native was up to fifth before the first caution flag of the day waved on lap 31. Under the yellow, Allgaier reported that the BRANDT Camaro was good on entry, tight center and was tighter off of Turn 4 than Turn 2.

He restarted in the same position and continued his surge forward, running in third by lap 40. He remained there until another caution came out with 13 laps to go in Stage One. Crew chief Jason Burdett called Allgaier to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. With some cars opting not to pit, Allgaier restarted in the seventh position and powered his way back to third before the green-and-white checkered flag waved to end the first stage.

Staying out under the stage-ending caution, Allgaier took the green flag for Stage Two in the third spot on lap 68. He battled within the top five during the caution-free stage and was scored in the fifth position at the end of Stage Two on lap 120. The JR Motorsports driver had relayed during the stage that the BRANDT Camaro was still tight through the center of the turns, so he pitted for four tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment.

Allgaier lined up for the final stage in sixth and was running in fourth when a caution came out on lap 179. The BRANDT Chevy was still on the tight side through the center of the turns, so Burdett called Allgaier in for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. He restarted in fourth on lap 186 and quickly moved up to third, solidly maintaining his position until another caution flag waved with 35 laps to go.

The JRM driver reported under the yellow that the BRANDT Camaro was the best it had been so far and the team decided to take the opportunity to pit for the final time for fresh tires and fuel, setting them up for the end of the race. Allgaier restarted well inside the top five and battled hard in the closing laps, holding off Harrison Burton on the final lap to take the checkered flag in third.

Christopher Bell won the race and was followed by Cole Custer and Allgaier, with Burton and JRM driver Zane Smith rounding out the top five.

Justin Allgaier, driver No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture team

“This BRANDT Professional Agriculture team did a fantastic job today. We made good adjustments and the pit crew had fast stops. We didn’t get to turn as many laps in practice as we wanted yesterday because of the weather, but this team worked hard all day and we were able to get a great finish. All-in-all it was a solid day.”