Late cost nets Justin Allgaier fourth NASCAR O’Reilly Sequence win at Darlington Raceway on Saturday within the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Assist a Hero 200
DARLINGTON, S.C.—Justin Allgaier’s formulation for profitable Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Assist a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway was easy sufficient: reap the benefits of wonderful pit stops and muscle his approach into the lead on the ultimate two restarts.
Justin Allgaier – Fourth Win
The outcome was Allgaier’s fourth NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence victory on the 1.366-mile observe, 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 below the third and last warning on lap 127, Allgaier 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 the end 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 Chevrolet.
“These guys have by no means stop all 12 months—they gained the race,” Allgaier mentioned of his pit crew. “They’ve by no means given up. They had been on prime of all of it day on pit highway.
“We undoubtedly weren’t the perfect all day. Kyle (Larson) clearly was wonderful. He had us coated… 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 anxious about Brandon (Jones)—he had a quick automobile—and I used to be anxious that the 19 (third-place finisher Christopher Bell) and the 88 (Larson) had been going to get by way of the visitors there.”
But it surely was the 39-year-old Allgaier who took the checkered flag, and the driving 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 mentioned. “And (for the win) to return at Darlington, a spot I’ve beloved for thus lengthy, is basically particular.”
Kyle Larson Falls to Fourth
Larson was capable of catch and cross Allgaier after a restart on lap 99, after dropping a spot to Jones on pit highway 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 turned harder to cross,” defined Larson, who led the primary 94 laps from the pole and gained the primary two levels. “On the finish, the tempo picked up, and also you’re caught.
“Unlucky, however that’s the best way racing is typically. That sucks, however I had loads of enjoyable right this moment.”
First off pit highway below 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 mentioned. “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 ten in his rookie season. Sheldon Creed, Parker Retzlaff, Sammy Smith, and Sam Mayer accomplished the highest ten.
After spinning on pit highway through the first stage break, Jesse Love recovered to complete eleventh, his first outcome outdoors the highest ten this season.
Allgaier will increase his factors lead and is now 52 factors over second-place Jesse Love. Carson Kvapil is third, adopted by Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill to finish the highest 5.
Up Subsequent
The NASCAR O’Reilly Sequence now heads to a different famed NASCAR observe, Martinsville Speedway, for its subsequent race on Saturday, March twenty eighth. The NFPA 250 begins at 3:30 pm ET on CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Final 12 months’s winner was Austin Hill.
