Justin Allgaier and the No. 31 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet team made their way the ‘Lone Star’ state for the O’Reilly Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.  Allgaier fought a tight-handling race car throughout the 300 miles, but overcame and finished in the sixth position, keeping his third-place points position justbehind teammate, Jason Leffler.

The No. 31 Turner Motorsports team unloaded for two of four practice sessions over a two-day period.  Allgaier made the most of his time on the track, getting a handle on his car, and by the end of the session they were listed 12th on the speedcharts by the end of second practice.  Allgaier and crew chief Jimmy Elledge felt the car was good enough for qualifying and decided to sit out of final practice.  The 24-year-old Rivington, Ill-native native qualified the Turner Motorsports Chevy in the 11th position with a time of176.678 to start the 200-lap race.

From the drop of the green flag, the Turner Motorsports driver fought a tight-handling condition in his race car.  By lap 41, Allgaier felt a vibration in the right front, but stayed out until lap 45 to make a green-flag pit stop. Allgaier brought the No. 31Chevy down pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment, upon removing the right front tire the crew noticed it had been corded.  After green-flag pit stops cycled through by lap 52, Allgaier was running in the 10th position.  Over the next several laps, Allgaier fought a tight-handling race car through the corners, but maintained his track position.  When the caution flag flew, on lap 67, Elledge called his driver to pit road for fuel, four tires, and an air pressure adjustment.  He returned to the track in the eighth position.  Following the restart, Allgaier quickly climbed towards the front of the field as high as fourth, eventually settling into the sixth position.

Over the next several laps, Allgaier continued to fight a tight-handling race car. On lap, 122 the caution flag flew once again, giving Elledge the opportunity for bring Allgaier in for four tires, fuel, track-bar and air pressure adjustments.  The race restarted on lap 128 with Allgaier in the eighth position.  Allgaier quickly charged towards the front, as high as fourth by lap 169.  As final green-flag pit stops began in the closing laps, Elledge brought the No. 31 Chevy back to pit road on lap175 for fuel and four tires. Pit stops cycled though with Allgaier filing into the eighth position, by lap 180.  The “Lil Gator” would fight two more positions over the next 20 laps finishing in a hard-fought sixth-place finish.

“We unloaded a good car this weekend, and fought tight conditions during practice and through the race,” said Allgaier.  “I’m especially happy to earn a strong sixth place finish in Mr. Turner’s home state.  Jimmy and the No. 31 crew worked really hard on pit road making the changes we needed throughout the race.” 

Next Stop:  The NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will head to the largest speedway on the NASCAR circuit next weekend, Talladega Superspeedway for the Aarons 312. The Saturday afternoon race will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN2 and on MRN Radio affiliates. LIVE coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. EST.