After taking the lead on a late-race restart, Justin Allgaier held on to win for the 31st time in his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (NOAPS) career, and the third time this season. His victory at Martinsville means that JR Motorsports has managed to win the last five consecutive races.
Corey Day finished second, Sammy Smith third, Sheldon Creed fourth, and Lee Pulliam fifth in his O’Reilly Series debut. Austin Hill, Dean Thompson, Ross Chastain, Ryan Sieg, and Brent Crews filled out the remainder of the top ten.
“I keep saying it and I keep talking about how great this team is,” said Allgaier. “We’ve fired off in 2026 better than I could have ever imagined. So proud of the race cars we brought to the race track and all of our partners.”
Allgaier now holds a commanding lead in the championship standings, 92 points clear of reigning champion Jesse Love.
Justin Allgaier, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images
Stage 1
Allgaier led from pole, working with teammate Caruth on the start so that both could get in line. He was cruising out front when the first caution of the race flew, triggered by Luke Baldwin. Making his NOAPS debut, he slammed the wall after wheel-hopping. Lavar Scott also got a piece of it.
The strategy then split among the lead lap cars with about half choosing to pit while the leaders stayed out.
Allgaier remained in control for the rest of the stage, which ended under caution after a spin from Garrett Smithley. Allgaier won Stage 1 over B. Jones, Caruth, Crews, Creed, S. Smith, Alfredo, Kvapil, Love, Sawalich.
Stage 2
Jones beat Allgaier off pit road, but they restarted back in the mid-teens with all those who stayed out.
Day now led Mayer at the front of the field, while Clements punches the nose in after contact with Nick Sanchez in the middle of the field. Since he was leaking fluid, NASCAR threw the caution.
Another wild restart followed, with Mayer muscling Day out of the race lead. Debris on track forced another quick yellow, and being on the edge of the fuel window, the strategy split again with Day leading a big group of cars onto pit road. Pulliam, who followed Day off pit road, was penalized for an uncontrolled tire.
Hill ended up winning the stage, beating Mayer in a photo finish. Tay. Gray, R. Sieg, Sawalich, Alfredo, Caruth, H. Burton, Day, and Allgaier filled out the rest of the top ten.
Stage 3
Caruth now led the way as the race got extremely aggressive throughout the pack, leading to constant contact. It also led to several restarts with various drivers going for a spin.
Caruth finally gave up the lead for a planned pit stop during a caution with 105 laps to go, handing the lead to Burton.
With 90 to go, Allgaier took the lead. When the caution flew for another spin 20 laps later, most of the field chose to pit. However, a handful did not, led by Pulliam.
He remained out front for a bit, but Allgaier cleared him from the outside on a restart with less than 30 laps to go, just before Chastain went for a spin.
Allgaier held the lead on the restart, while Pulliam dealt with a tire rub after getting body-slammed by Love. The caution flew one more as Sawalich went around in the middle of the pack.
On what would be the final restart, Allgaier got away with ease, and the race ended under caution after Rajah Caruth went spinning on the final lap.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Team
Source link
