Justin Allgaier outduels Jesse Love for NASCAR O’Reilly Sequence victory at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday night time within the GOVX 200.
PHOENIX, Ariz. – JR Motorsports’ driver Justin Allgaier pushed ahead when it mattered most, his No. 7 Chevrolet main solely the final 11 laps of Saturday night time’s GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway to say his third win on the one-mile oval and take over the championship lead in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence.
Allgaier Outduels Love for Victory
Allgaier needed to go the night time’s most dominant driver, Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love, to earn the trophy. Love got here into the race with the most effective common end within the final 4 Phoenix races and once more proved how good he’s within the desert, main a race-best 114 of the 200 laps.
There have been no warning durations within the opening two levels of the race – the primary stage gained by Allgaier’s teammate Sammy Smith and the second stage gained by Love.
Two late race yellow flags, nonetheless, bunched the sector on restarts and allowed Allgaier’s group to rally from a gradual pit cease earlier within the night time. The 2 former champions went door-to-door following the ultimate restart with 15 laps to go, the 2024 sequence champ Allgaier finally besting the 2025 champ Love with a daring transfer on the surface after which holding him off by 0.449 seconds on the end line to earn JR Motorsports’ 107th victory.
“So pleased with this group,” mentioned Allgaier, praising the group for overcoming a poor cease early. “It wasn’t for lack of adversity, and it looks like these are those which might be huge for us. I can’t say sufficient about this group.
“It by no means will get outdated profitable,” added Allgaier, who has now gained no less than one race for a report ten consecutive seasons. “This group rallied and by no means gave up.”
As encouraging because the night time was – a stage win and fourth consecutive prime ten end on the season for Love, the 21-year-old was understandably annoyed to complete runner-up after such a dominant exhibiting.
“The automobile tightening up there at first of stage three put us behind, so simply annoyed,” mentioned Love, noting that he refused to only stroll away proud of a runner-up exhibiting after such a powerful effort.
“Clearly not why I’m right here [to finish second]. Simply past annoyed with myself. I don’t know what else to say, simply upset, upset with myself.”
The highest ending 14 automobiles have been Chevrolets. Allgaier’s JR Motorsports teammate, Carson Kvapil, who appeared robust mid-race and led 22 laps, completed third, adopted by Haas Manufacturing facility Staff co-drivers Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer.
Sammy Smith, Jeb Burton, Rajah Caruth, Corey Day, and Anthony Alfredo rounded out the top-1. It’s the third prime ten of the season for each Smith and Day.
The championship standings now mirror Saturday’s final result with Allgaier holding a three-point benefit over Love. Austin Hill is simply 5 factors behind Allgaier. Carson Kvapil and Sheldon Creed spherical out the highest 5.
Up Subsequent
The sequence heads to the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway for subsequent week’s race. The LiUNA begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Allgaier is the defending winner of that race.
