AVONDALE, Az. (November 13, 2011) – Justin Allgaier and the No. 31 BRANDT team headed to the Arizona desert this past weekend for the running of the WYPALL 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.  After 200 laps on the new surface, Allgaier brought home a ninth-place finish and solidly took over third-place in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) championship point standings.
 
The No. 31 BRANDT team unloaded for two lengthy practice sessions on Thursday afternoon. Allgaier and the rest of his NNS competitors utilized these two sessions to learn the new track surface and hoped to work in a second groove. The No. 31 Chevy driver returned Friday afternoon for one final practice session. The adjustments that the crew made paid off as Allgaier finished practice listed third on the speed charts. The Turner Motorsports driver returned to the track Saturday morning and qualified his No. 31 machine in the seventh position with a time of 27.218-seconds to start the 200-lap race.
 
When the green flag dropped, the BRANDT Chevy driver rolled off from inside the top-10 in the seventh position.  Allgaier wasted no time moving to the front, racing his way to the third position by lap 20.  The caution flag flew on lap 34.  Allgaier hit pit road for four tires with adjusted air pressures and a full tank of fuel. He restarted in the sixth position and quickly moved up to fourth, but the championship contender reported to crew chief Jimmy Elledge that his car was really tight.  The caution flew once again on lap 84 with Allgaier in the 10th position.  He hit pit road for track bar and air pressure adjustments along with four newtires and a full tank of fuel. 
 
Green-flag action resumed on lap 90 with Allgaier in the 11th position.  Allgaier moved back inside the top-10, climbing as high as eighth, but he reported that he was way too loose when he got underneath a competitor in the corner. The caution flew once again on lap 129.  Allgaier hit pit road for a track bar adjustment and a spring rubber in the right rear along with fuel and four new tires.  He restarted ninth on lap 139. 
 
The racing remained green for the afternoon’s first lengthy period, and Allgaier, while running in the seventh position, reported that his car had grown tighter as the green-flag run progressed.  As the laps ticked away, Allgaier remained quiet on the radio focusing on bringing home another solid finish.  He ultimately crossed the finish line in the ninth position and took over sole position of third-place in the NNS championship point standings.  With one race remaining in the 2011 season, Allgaier is on track to equal his career-best finishing spot in the championship standings. 
 
“It was a good day for the BRANDT crew.  The guys worked hard all weekend to adapt to the new surface and we brought home another solid finish.  The surface provided good racing conditions and we left without a scratch on the No. 31 Chevy.  I can’t wait to get to Homestead and finish out this season strong,” said Allgaier.
 
Next Stop:  The NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will head to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 2011 season-finale next weekend for the Ford 300. The Saturday afternoon race will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN2 and on MRN Radio affiliates. LIVE coverage begins at 4:00 p.m. EST.