Justin Allgaier has won his second race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season after a wild overtime finish at Michigan International Speedway.
Allgaier had taken the white flag as the leader and was in control of the race when a multi-car crash occurred farther back in the field. Carson Kvapil spun into the outside wall while Kyle Sieg's car flipped upside down and slid on its roof across the apron. It ultimately landed on all four tires in the infield.
MORE: Allgaier wins, full Michigan results
NASCAR threw the caution, ending the race and securing Allgaier's first career win at Michigan International Speedway.
Sheldon Creed finished second. John Hunter Nemechek, Anthony Alfredo, and Noah Gragson rounded out the top five.
ALLGAIER WINS AS KYLE SIEG FLIPS ON THE FINAL LAP!
The No. 7 driver finally captures a long awaited victory at @MISpeedway as it ends under caution with @KyleSieg28 going airborne.
Thankfully, he appears to be okay.#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ZWY9bqgrnl
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) August 17, 2024
This finish unfolded after differing fuel strategies played out on the two-mile track.
Kvapil gambled late. He stayed out on the track even though he was eight laps short of the scheduled distance. The reason is that the radar showed a cell of rain was en route to the track. However, it did not arrive before Kvapil needed to stop for fuel. He gave up a lead of more than two seconds and fell to 20th.
Allgaier, who stopped on Lap 69, aggressively moved through the field. Unlike other drivers ahead of him, he didn't have to worry about running out of fuel.
Allgaier was in control of the race with fewer than 10 laps remaining, but the situation changed when the caution flew for Kyle Weatherman blowing a tire and hitting the outside wall hard. This set up a late restart. Although it unfolded after a 14-minute red flag delay for rain.
Stage 1: Ryan Sieg won stage 1. Brandon Jones, Chandler Smith, Justin Allgaier, Lawless Alan, Austin Hill, Riley Herbst, Kyle Sieg, Parker Kligerman, and AJ Allmendinger were all top 10 in stage 1.
Rain fell at the track after the end of stage 1. NASCAR displayed the red flag for nine minutes and 41 seconds before resuming the race.
Stage 2: John Hunter Nemechek won stage 2. Jesse Love, AJ Allmendinger, Taylor Gray, Sammy Smith, Chandler Smith, Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, Jeb Burton, and Anthony Alfredo were all top 10 in the stage.
A stunning wreck occurred with eight laps remaining in stage 2. Riley Herbst moved up the track, but he was not clear. He spun off the nose of Ryan Sieg's car and slammed into the outside wall.
Brandon Jones spun off the nose of Jesse Love after checking up to avoid the crash. Jones collided with Sam Mayer after spinning and then Cole Custer hit him from behind.
NOT CLEAR!@rileyherbst slides across the nose of @RyanSiegRacing that results in a multi-car crash into Turn 3 that collects @BrandonJonesRac, @sam_mayer_ and @ColeCuster #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/bClleKX5NU
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) August 17, 2024
Herbst, Jones, and Mayer could not continue in the race after the crash. Herbst and Mayer did not have to worry about losing points considering that they are already locked into the playoffs with wins. Jones needs a win to make the playoffs.
"We had a huge run on the 39 off of Turn 2 and I went to his inside and thought I was clear," Herbst said after exiting the infield care center. "Obviously, I wasn't clear. It is a bummer deal. We will bounce back at Daytona and try to get another win."
Notable: Allgaier's win on Saturday was the 25th of his Xfinity Series career. This broke his tie with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tommy Houston and put him in sole possession of 10th place on the all-time Xfinity wins list.
Next: The NASCAR Xfinity Series season continues with a trip to Daytona International Speedway. Teams will compete at the 2.5-mile track on Friday, Aug. 23 (7:30 p.m. ET).