Words can’t properly describe the insanity that was the finish of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Martinsville. A red flag and an overtime restart set up an unbelievable two-lap dash to the checkered flag..
Richard Childress Racing team-mates Austin Hill and Sheldon Creed slammed doors all around the half-mile short track in the battle for the win.
After shoving Hill out of the way, Hill then spun in a violent crash that collected several cars. Allgaier got underneath Creed, and won the race in a dramatic photo finish. The margin was just 0.032s, putting Allgaier into the Championship 4.
Cole Custer joined him as the final transfer, plowing through the chaos on the frontstretch and destroying his own car in the process.
Hill, Creed, Chandler Smith, and Sammy Smith were all eliminated. Smith was upset with his own Joe Gibbs Racing team-mate John-Hunter Nemechek, feeling that he impeded his efforts in the closing laps of the race.
Advancing into the Championship 4
Sam Mayer – No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Best Points Result: 7th in 2022
Photo by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Images
Race winner Sam Mayer, JR Motorsports, Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet Camaro
John-Hunter Nemechek – No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Best Points Result: 7th in 2019
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Race winner John Hunter Nemechek, Joe Gibbs Racing, Romco Equipment Toyota Supra
Cole Custer – No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Best Points Result: 2nd in 2018 and 2019
Photo by: Ben Earp / NKP / Motorsport Images
Race winner Cole Custer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang
Justin Allgaier – No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Best Points Result: 2nd in 2020
Photo by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Images
Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports, BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro in victory lane