Allgaier Matches Career High in First Pocono Win

Justin Allgaier and Dale Earnhardt JR lift the trophy at Pocono (Motorsports Today, Eddie Kalegi)

LONG POND, P.A. - The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series resumed action Saturday, June 13, for the MillerTech Battery 200. The race was filled with excitement and plenty of incidents as drivers were seemingly very antsy coming off the first off week of the season. In a race that saw 10 cautions, Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports prevailed, earning his fifth win in seventeen races matching a career best.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

It was Joe Gibbs Racing who swept the front row as Brandon Jones earned the pole, with Taylor Gray alongside. Similar to the Arca Race, the polesitter of Jones did not lead a lap as Gray took control of the race early, leading the first 21 laps. Gray went on to win stage one over Haas Factory Team's Sam Mayer.

Pit strategy mixed things up, as late in stage two after the fifth caution for incident of the race, Gray's teammate Brent Crews took the lead in the two-lap dash for the stage win. Crews would have to race hard to rebound later on, but ultimately finished the race in the runner up position after the late race chaos.

Allgaier finished second in stage two, and found himself leading the field for the next fifteen laps in the final stage. However, it seemed Allgaier didn't have the best car over the stretch of the long run. Instead it was Sam Mayer who had arguably the strongest long run car, as he dethroned Allgaier from the lead on lap 68.

After Sheldon Creed, Mayer's Haas teammate decided to pit, Allgaier decided to make his final service a lap later with thirty laps to go. As the cycle worked out, Mayer beat Allgaier out of pitlane and quickly passed Creed for the battle for the first car on strategy, buy Mayer would not assume the lead again until the caution came out on lap 84.

The beneficiary of the caution was Harrison Burton pf Sam Hunt Racing, who was barely holding on to the lead at that time. Unfortunately for Burton, he had to pit to make his final stop during the caution, but the tire advantage helped redeem his day as he finished the race in 11th.

On lap 88 the race went back green with Mayer in the lead, but a quick caution jumbled things back up again. For Mayer the restart after on lap 93 would change the race for him as despite being clear of Allgaier entering turn one, the 2024 series champ was undeniable on the outside, stealing the lead away.

The race could not end though without one more caution, as on lap 96 a three-car accident including Jordan Anderson Racing's Jeb Burton triggered a seven minute and thirty-one second red flag.

When the race went back green for a two-lap dash in regulation, Allgaier chose to be the control car on the top lane, while Mayer was on the bottom.

On the restart it seemed Mayers teammate Sheldon Creed was going to help his teammate, but that quickly changed as he dove bottom of three wide just before turn one. This move ultimately hurt both himself and Mayer, as Allgaier got help from William Byron of JR Motorsports projecting him ahead of the duo taking firm control of the lead.

Creed lost handle of the car causing both him and his teammate to lose a chance at the win. Mayer crossed the line with 4th place finish, while Creed finished 5th. After the race Mayer was not frustrated with Creed's move, but his team was as they had felt Creed cost them a chance at the win.

As for the winner of the race, Allgaier cruised to his 5th victory of 2026, also being the first driver in all three series to clinch themselves into the Chase. The win marked Allgaiers first win at Pocono in his O'Reilly career.

OTHER NOTES:

Despite a tough moment at the end of the race, Sheldon Creed's 5th place finish was huge for his regular season standings hopes. On lap one of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Corey Day got loose leading to a spin that collected defending O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love ending both drivers days as they finished 37th and 38th each scoring one point.

With the 5th place result and five stage points earned earlier in the race, Creed earned 37 points gaining a big chunk on the duo. Leaving Pocono, Creed now sits 23 points out of 2nd in the standings.

Rajah Caruth of JR Motorsports had a big day running for Jordan Anderson racing as he finished 7th in the race also earning a crucial 37 points. Rajah leaves Pocono right in reach of the Chase cutoff, as he sits 14th in the standings just 8 points behind Brent Crews, who projected himself into 12th with his finish.

Jeremy Clements made history in the race, as he tied Kenny Wallace for the most starts all-time in series history with his 547th career start. Clements looked sporty early in the race and also led a lap on lap 72 during the pit cycle. He earned points in the second stage also and finished the race in 16th.

UP NEXT:

Justin Allgaier looks to do something he is yet to do in his career, and that is win three races in a row. He has a big challenge ahead next weekend as the series faces a track it has not seen before as they head to Naval Base Corando to take on the San Diego Street Course. Luckily for Allgaier he will not have to race any full-time Cup Series drivers such as Shane Van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch as drivers of full-time status are barred from running in multiple races over the weekend. You have to go back to Road America in 2018 to find the last time Allgaier won a road course race.

As for coverage of the race, it can be found on the CW beginning at 5:00 P.M. ET.

As for the remainder of Pocono weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series closes things out Sunday, June 14 at 1:00 P.M. ET on Prime, as they race the Great American Getaway 400. Like Allgaier, Denny Hamlin is looking to achieve a first in his career, and that too is winning three consecutive races. Hamlin will start on the pole with the driver who spoiled his last attempt at the accomplishment of Kyle Larson to his side.