Nemechek Dominates Michigan For Fifth Win of Season

Win No. 5 for Nemechek. (Photo: Wayne Riegle| The Podium Finish)

BROOKLYN, Mich. — John Hunter Nemechek dominated the second half of the Cabo Wabo 250 after Justin Allgaier got spun out on pit road following the end of Stage 2 to win Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

“If situations played out different, I’m not sure if I’d have been able to get around the 7 (Allgaier),” Nemechek said after the race. “But things played out the way they did, and in the end, we were able to win.”

The 26-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing not only brought home his fifth win of the season, but a special victory for Joe Gibbs Racing. It was the 200th Xfinity victory for JGR, something that meant a lot for Nemechek to accomplish.

“To win multiple times this season is special, but getting the fifth win of the year and it being the 200th is just special for Joe Gibbs Racing as a whole and really special for the entire Xfinity program,” Nemechek said.

Tight racing between teammates was an issue early. (Photo: Steve Conley | The Podium Finish)

But, the special win didn’t come without a bit of frustration, and that was in the form of his own teammate — Ty Gibbs. All three JGR cars were running toward the front when Nemechek made contact with Gibbs exiting Turn 2, creating a chain reaction that took out Sammy Smith.

Smith ended up suffering heavy damage after hitting the 77 car driven by Carson Hocevar.

Nemechek took responsibility for the crash and offered an apology to Gibbs.

“I have to apologize to Ty,” Nemechek said after exiting his car. “I’ve been the one who’s been very vocal about teammates here recently. I put him in a bad aero spot. I got him loose, and he couldn’t check up. It’s my mistake. I hate that we both spun early, but at least we were able to rebound. I know he’s not too happy with me, and he has every right not to be.”

Gibbs ended up finishing fourth despite the spin. Visibly upset, Gibbs did not speak with reporters after the race.

Nemechek dominates for his fifth win of the season (Photo: Steve Conley | The Podium Finish)

Josh Berry’s No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet briefly hung on with Nemechek on a restart with eight laps, but handling issues didn’t allow him to contend for the win.

“We just felt really tight that last run,” Berry said. “I was kind of inching in on him for a while [before the last caution], and then we kind of leveled off. Overall, we were a little too tight to make a run at him there.”

Berry’s teammate, Justin Allgaier, had ample reason to be the race’s most disappointed driver. Allgaier won the first 30-lap stage wire-to-wire, but a slow pit stop during the break cost him eight positions in the running order.

After Allgaier worked his way to second by the end of Stage 2, he got turned by Gibbs on pit road. Later during green flag pit stops, he suffered a pit road penalty for a crewman over the wall too soon on Lap 97. That sent him deep in the field and he ended up finishing 14^th in arguably the fastest car in the race.

With five races remaining in the regular season, Nemechek is tied for the points lead with Austin Hill at 811. The JGR driver is confident about the upcoming set of tracks for his team.

“We just need to capitalize on opportunities like today, but avoid the mistakes like we had with our teammate to have a successful run toward a championship,” he said.

Stage 1 Results

1. Justin Allgaier
2. Josh Berry
3. Cole Custer
4. Chandler Smith
5. Riley Herbst
6. Brandon Jones
7. Austin Hill
8. Ryan Sieg
9. Sam Mayer
10. Anthony Alfredo

Stage 2 Results

1. John Hunter Nemechek
2. Justin Allgaier
3. Ty Gibbs
4. Riley Herbst
5. Austin Hill
6. Cole Custer
7. Josh Berry
8. Sam Mayer
9. Brandin Jones
10. Brett Moffitt

Cabo Wabo 250 Result