Late-Race Wreck Ends Dominant Texas Day For Allgaier

Justin Allgaier surveys his wrecked race car Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. (John Harrelson/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

FORT WORTH, Texas – A dominant day for JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway ended abruptly due to a crash with Kris Wright following green flag pit stops.

After a tense battle with JRM teammate Kyle Larson, one that saw Larson break loose in turn three and fight for control with 57 laps to go, Allgaier had opened up his lead over the NASCAR Cup Series star.

Larson, who was filling in for Connor Zilisch after he was injured in a final lap wreck at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway a week earlier, pitted his No. 88 Blues Hog Chevrolet with 49 laps to go.

Allgaier answered one lap later on lap 152, but an issue on the right rear tire for the No. 7 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet – and being stuck behind traffic for an extra lap – allowed Larson to take the effective lead as the pit cycle continued.

The defending Xfinity Series champion started his pursuit of his teammate from over a straightaway behind. The chase ended on lap 155.

Allgaier caught Wright’s slower No. 5 First National Bank Corporation Chevrolet in turn three. The Our Motorsports driver was four laps behind the leaders at the time and causing others, including Larson and Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love, to take evasive action in the preceding laps.

Wright entered the third turn in the high lane before cutting down to the inside at the apex of the corner. He then drifted back up the track, into the path of Allgaier’s much faster Chevrolet.

Unable to predict Wright’s erratic movements, Allgaier slammed into the back of Wright’s car exiting turn four. He then skidded into the outside wall before coming to a rest in the infield grass on the frontstretch, out of the race. The JRM driver was credited with a 35th-place finish.

“First and foremost, I hate it for his guys too, a wrecked race car is a wrecked race car,” Allgaier said outside of the infield care center. “It doesn’t matter who is at fault or how it happens. He and I can have a conversation about it.

“Ultimately, as a veteran in this sport, I’ve got to do a better job. I’m a little frustrated because I wanted to go catch the 88, but at the same time you’ve still got a duty to keep control of your own car,” added Allgaier. “I’m disappointed. It’s how it goes, this sport we’re in, and you’ve got to learn from it. Just a bad day for myself.”

Despite the crash, Allgaier still experienced a decent points day. By virtue of winning the first stage and a runner-up finish in the second stage, he earned an additional 19 championship driver points.

Allgaier also ran the fastest lap of the race on the 114th circuit. The 29.824-second (181.062 mph) lap earned the Riverton, Ill., native another bonus point for the Xfinity Fastest Lap.

With the stage points and the fastest-lap bonus point added in, Allgaier earned 22 total points at Texas, equivalent to a 15th-place finish.

All of the extra points allowed Allgaier to maintain the lead in the regular season standings over RCR’s Austin Hill by 51 markers.

Next for Allgaier and the rest of the Xfinity Series field is the BetMGM 300 at North Carolina’s Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 38-year-old won on the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval from the pole in 2023 after leading 83 laps.

Broadcast coverage from Charlotte is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 4:30 p.m. ET, live on The CW, the Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.