Justin Allgaier Dominates NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Iowa Speedway
Justin Allgaier claimed his second win of the 2018 Xfinity Series season when he took the checkered flag in the 2018 Iowa 250.
Justin Allgaier led 182 of the 250 laps that made up the 2018 Iowa 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on his way to the win at Iowa Speedway in Newton on Sunday. With his second win of the season, Allgaier clinched a berth in the series playoffs after he lost the playoff benefits of his win earlier this season at Dover International Speedway when his car failed post-race inspection.
Justin Allgaier leads at Iowa
, Justin Allgaier [7] leads Daniel Hemric [21] during the Iowa 250 at Iowa Speedway on June 17, 2018., Getty Images for NASCAR"We had a great car today," Allgaier said in victory lane after his Iowa win. "These guys did a fantastic job.
Allgaier also won both of the 60-lap stages that made up the first 120 laps of the race after taking the lead from pole sitter Austin Cindric on lap 59. Cindric led the first 58 laps on the race after his first-career pole, making him the only driver other than Allgaier to post double digits in the laps-led category on Sunday. He finished 11th.
Austin Cindric wins pole
, Austin Cindric claims the pole for the Iowa 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway on June 17, 2018., Getty Images for NASCARAfter taking the lead in the closing laps of the opening stage, Allgaier led most of the remaining laps. Over the course of the 130-lap third and final stage, Christopher Bell posed lengthy challenges for the lead but was unable to overtake Allgaier, and as a result, wound up second.
“Man, I just needed to be in front of [Allgaier],” Bell said. “It was really good on the bottom in both corners. I just didn’t have enough to clear him.”
Bell started the race in the back, along with Ryan Reed, after the two drivers failed to make qualifying attempts earlier in the day because of issues getting through pre-qualifying inspection. By the end of the first stage, Bell was sixth in the running order. By the end of stage two on lap 120, he was up to third.
Reed got into the top-10 by the end of the second stage but was 17th by race's end.
Daniel Hemric finished third, his fourth top-three finish in the last five races, while Cole Custer and Brandon Jones rounded out the top-five.
Iowa 250 results:
1. Justin Allgaier, No. 7 Chevrolet
2. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
3. Daniel Hemric, No. 21 Chevrolet
4. Cole Custer, No. 00 Ford
5. Brandon Jones, No. 19 Toyota
6. Riley Herbst, No. 18 Toyota
7. Ty Majeski, No. 60 Ford
8. Tyler Reddick, No. 9 Chevrolet
9. Matt Tifft, No. 2 Chevrolet
10. Kaz Grala, No. 61 Ford
11. Austin Cindric, No. 22 Ford
12. Justin Haley, No. 23 Chevrolet
13. Michael Annett, No. 5 Chevrolet
14. Ryan Truex, No. 11 Chevrolet
15. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Chevrolet
16. Shane Lee, No. 3 Chevrolet
17. Ryan Reed, No. 16 Ford
18. Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Chevrolet
19. Ross Chastain, No. 4 Chevrolet
20. Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Chevrolet
21. Joey Gase, No. 35 Chevrolet
22. Spencer Boyd, No. 76 Chevrolet
23. Alex Labbe, No. 36 Chevrolet
24. David Starr, No. 52 Chevrolet
25. Garrett Smithley, No. 0 Chevrolet
26. Chad Finchum, No. 40 Toyota
28. Elliott Sadler, No. 1 Chevrolet
29. B.J. McLeod, No. 15 Chevrolet
30. Brandon Hightower, No. 55 Toyota
31. Vinnie Miller, No. 01 Chevrolet
32. Tommy Joe Marins, No. 78 Chevrolet
33. Stan Mullis, No. 66 Chevrolet
34. Josh Williams, No. 90 Chevrolet
35. Jeff Green, No. 38 Chevrolet
36. Josh Bilicki, No. 45 Toyota
37. Timmy Hill, No. 13 Toyota
38. Mike Harmon, No. 74 Chevrolet
39. Morgan Shepherd, No. 89 Chevrolet
40. J.J. Yeley, No. 93 Chevrolet
