DARLINGTON, S.C. — Justin Allgaier’s system for profitable Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Assist a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway was easy sufficient: reap the benefits of glorious pit stops and muscle his means into the lead on the ultimate two restarts.
The outcome was Allgaier’s fourth NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence victory on the 1.366-mile monitor, his second of the season and the thirtieth of his profession, tying him with Joey Logano for seventh on the collection’ profession win record.
After a sluggish pit cease underneath the third and last warning on Lap 127 buried the dominant automobile of Kyle Larson in fifth place, Allgaier seized the lead from Brandon Jones on the final restart with 15 laps left and beat Jones to complete line by 0.578 seconds.
Allgaier is the primary repeat winner of the 2026 season, however his victory is the fourth straight for JR Motorsports Chevrolets.
“These guys have by no means stop all yr—they received the race,” Allgaier stated of his pit crew. “They’ve by no means given up. They had been on prime of all of it day on pit street.
“We undoubtedly weren’t the most effective all day. Kyle (Larson) clearly was superb. He had us lined… I didn’t do an excellent job with all of it day, if I’m being trustworthy with you. Most likely one of many worst days personally I’ve had right here at Darlington.
“On the finish there, I used to be fearful about Brandon (Jones)—he had a quick automobile—and I used to be fearful that the 19 (third-place finisher Christopher Bell) and the 88 (Larson) had been going to get by the visitors there.”
However it was the 39-year-old Allgaier who took the checkered flag, and the motive force of the No. 7 JRM Camaro savored the victory.
“No person will ever know, the later you get into your profession, how a lot these victories imply,” Allgaier stated. “And to come back at Darlington, a spot I’ve cherished for therefore lengthy, is basically particular.”
Larson was in a position to catch and cross Allgaier after a restart on Lap 99, after dropping a spot to Jones on pit street and watching Allgaier flash previous into the lead on the restart lap.
However the last restart, which adopted a five-car wreck involving Dean Thompson, Austin Hill, Kyle Sieg, Alex Labbe and Lavar Scott, was one other matter. Larson may achieve just one place and completed fourth forward of Carson Kvapil.
“It grew to become harder to cross,” defined Larson, who led the primary 94 laps from the pole and received the primary two levels. “On the finish, the tempo picked up, and also you’re caught.
“Unlucky, however that’s the way in which racing is usually. That sucks, however I had numerous enjoyable right this moment.”
First off pit street underneath every of the ultimate two cautions, Jones selected the underside lane for the ultimate restart, however Allgaier powered into the lead from the highest lane.
“The 7 (Allgaier) simply stored getting simply barely higher launches than I may on that second lane, and he had just a bit extra juice within the tank on the quick run right this moment,” Jones stated. “We had been matching, if not barely higher on the long term, however simply ran out of laps there on the finish.”
Corey Day completed sixth, posting his fifth-straight prime 10 in his rookie season. Sheldon Creed, Parker Retzlaff, Sammy Smith and Sam Mayer accomplished the highest 10.
The Outcomes
(4) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 147.
(8) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 147.
(2) Christopher Bell(i), Toyota, 147.
(1) Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 147.
(3) Carson Kvapil, Chevrolet, 147.
(12) Corey Day, Chevrolet, 147.
(13) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 147.
(5) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 147.
(18) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 147.
(6) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 147.
(10) Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 147.
(21) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 147.
(22) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 147.
(9) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 147.
(15) Taylor Grey, Toyota, 147.
(27) Nick Sanchez, Ford, 147.
(7) William Sawalich, Toyota, 147.
(23) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 147.
(30) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 147.
(32) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 147.
(33) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 147.
(14) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 147.
(19) Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, 147.
(17) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 147.
(20) JJ Yeley, Ford, 147.
(25) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 147.
(24) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 147.
(31) Austin Inexperienced, Chevrolet, 146.
(28) Patrick Staropoli #, Chevrolet, 146.
(26) Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 146.
(37) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 145.
(36) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 145.
(35) Myatt Snider, Chevrolet, 145.
(38) Nathan Byrd, Chevrolet, 145.
(11) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 142.
(29) Lavar Scott #, Chevrolet, Accident, 123.
(16) Kyle Sieg, Chevrolet, DVP, 121.
(34) Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, Accident, 120.
