Justin Allgaier Rebounds for Phoenix Victory

Justin Allgaier returns to a familiar sight in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series — Victory Lane. (Photo: Gavin Baker | Nigel Kinrade Photography)

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Justin Allgaier rallied late, taking the lead away from Jesse Love to win the GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway.

After an uncharacteristically quiet night early on at Phoenix Raceway, Allgaier persevered from a slow pit stop with the help of two late race cautions to pass both Love and JR Motorsports teammate Carson Kvapil.

The victory also marks the 1oth consecutive season Allgaier has recorded a victory in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

“So proud of this team,” Allgaier said. “Andrew Overstreet has done a great job taking over (as crew chief). He’s been telling me all week, ‘This is our and we’re going to go take it.’ It wasn’t for a lack of adversity; it seems like those are the ones that are really great for us.”

In total, Allgaier led just the final 11 laps of the race to score the victory at the 1-mile track. The result also moved him up into the championship lead through four races.

“It never gets old winning,” he said. “We got a lot of momentum, and this next part of the summer is really fun for us.”

After leading a race-high 114 of 200 laps, Love ultimately had to settle for a second-place finish. Even after earning a stage victory and fourth straight top 10 to start the season, Love was left disappointed with the result.

Justin Allgaier dealt with a formidable Jesse Love at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade | Nigel Kinrade Photography)

“The car tightening up there at the beginning of stage three put us behind,” Love said. “I don’t know what his (Allgaier) tire life was like. Just frustrated.”

Kvapil crossed the start/finish in third place, coming up a little short once again of his first career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win.

After cycling into second place following the green flag pit cycle late in the race, he began running down the leader, Sheldon Creed, but after multiple restarts, wound up finishing in third place.

“I didn’t want a caution, obviously,” said Kvapil. “I felt like we had a caution, it would just bring everyone up to us, and I thought we had by far the best car long run-wise. If that had gone green, I think that would have worked out for us.”

This season will look a little different for Kvapil, who’s running the majority of the races in the No. 1 car for JR Motorsports, but will also drive the No. 9 JRM car and the No. 91 DGM Racing car for a handful of starts as well.

Despite the moving around, Kvapil feels excited for the season as a whole after showing speed in every start this year across starts so far in the No. 9 and 91 cars.

“I’m super excited for the season that’s upcoming with Rodney (Childers) and all the guys on the (No.) 9 and (No. 91) cars,” he said. “So, just keep making good runs like this and one of these times it’s going to work out.”

Rounding out the top five was the Haas Factory Team duo of Creed and Sam Mayer.

Scoring top 10’s were Sammy Smith, Jeb Burton, Rajah Caruth, Corey Day and Anthony Alfredo.

Next week, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for The LiUNA! 250 on Saturday, March 14, at 5:30 p.m. EST on The CW, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Sammy Smith
2. Jesse Love
3. Carson Kvapil
4. Justin Allgaier
5. William Byron
6. Jeb Burton
7. Corey Day
8. Brent Crews
9. Sheldon Creed
10. Brandon Jones

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Jesse Love
2. Carson Kvapil
3. William Byron
4. Justin Allgaier
5. Brent Crews
6. Sammy Smith
7. Jeb Burton
8. Taylor Gray
9. Sheldon Creed
10. Jeremy Clements

Justin Allgaier burns it down at Phoenix Raceway after winning the GOVX 200. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade | Nigel Kinrade Photography)

GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway Finishing Results