Justin Allgaier Uses Pit Strategy for Michigan Win

Justin Allgaier pointing at the fans on the front straightaway after winning the Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

BROOKLYN, Mich. — Justin Allgaier has had great chances of reaching Victory Lane in 2024 outside his lone win at Darlington in May. Whether it was the car not having as much as Allgaier needs, strategy falling the wrong way or even blowing a tire with two laps to go while leading at Phoenix, the No. 7 team has not been able to put it all together yet.

On Saturday at Michigan though, thanks to having both a capable car and good pit strategy, Allgaier won the Cabo Wabo 250 for his second victory of the season.

“Just cannot say thank you enough to this team and all these guys standing right here,” said Allgaier. “It’s been an incredible week. We did not show up at Indianapolis (the last race) like we wanted to and these guys (the No. 7 team) have worked tirelessly through this break.”

Allgaier’s crew chief Jim Pohlman elected to come to pit road at the end of Stage 2, giving him more fuel than the other leaders for the final stage.

With just four laps to go, Allgaier held onto a narrow lead when Kyle Weatherman blew a tire and hit the wall hard, bringing out a caution. While the race was getting ready to go into overtime, some light rain popped up and caused a 23-minute, 51-second red flag period to get the track dry.

Once the red flag was lifted and the leaders were coming back to take the green flag, it was Allgaier in the top lane with JR Motorsports teammate Sammy Smith, who was on the outside looking in on the playoff cutline, to his inside.

Justin Allgaier doing a burnout after winning at Michigan International Speedway. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

Allgaier got a good jump on the top, but Sheldon Creed, who lined up behind Allgaier, could not stay close to the back of the No. 7, losing momentum in the top lane. This allowed Smith, who was receiving a great push from Noah Gragson on the bottom to take the lead momentarily but he could not get up in front of Allgaier to take control of the race and fell back to finish in fifth place.

“I probably should’ve just cleared the (No.) 7, I thought I had it cleared. I should’ve just taken it,” Smith told reporter Dustin Albino. “A little disappointing there on my part, but thanks to everybody at JRM for bringing a fast Allstate Peterbilt Chevrolet and we’ll move on to Daytona.”

This move allowed Allgaier to retake the lead and drive away from the Joe Gibbs Racing tandem of Creed and John Hunter Nemechek, when a caution came out to end the race after Carson Kvapil got spun around and a chain-reaction wreck, resulted in Kyle Sieg flipping over on the back straightaway.

The victory for Allgaier was the 25th of his career, now putting him at 10th all-time on the NASCAR Xfinity Series wins list, passing the Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“It’s truly special, winning at Michigan,” Allgaier said.

Finishing in second place was Creed, who led 23 laps on the day and now holds the record for most second-place finishes in NASCAR Xfinity Series history without a win with 11.

Some of the No. 7 crew members celebrating after winning the Cabo Wabo 250. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

“This one might have frustrated me the most out of all of them so far,” said Creed. “I had a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota GR Supra as fast as Xfinity internet today and led the beginning, got spun there and rallied back.”

“Just had a really good car, but that caution for rain came at a bad time for us.”

With the victory plus a 30th-place finish for Cole Custer, Allgaier now only trails Custer by 12 points in the driver standings with five races remaining before the playoffs.

On the cutline, Smith moved back into the 12th and final position above the cutline, now leading Ryan Sieg by one point.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results 

1. Ryan Sieg
2. Brandon Jones
3. Chandler Smith
4. Justin Allgaier
5. Lawless Alan
6. Austin Hill
7. Riley Herbst
8. Kyle Sieg
9. AJ Allmendinger
10. Parker Kligerman

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. John Hunter Nemechek
2. Jesse Love
3. AJ Allmendinger
4. Taylor Gray
5. Sammy Smith
6. Chandler Smith
7. Justin Allgaier
8. Sheldon Creed
9. Jeb Burton
10. Anthony Alfredo

Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway Finishing Results