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Justin Allgaier gets around Cindric for Mid-Ohio Xfinity win

With fresher tires, Justin Allgaier charged through the pack late at Mid-Ohio and captured the checkered flag for JR Motorsports.

Race winner Justin Allgaier

Race winner Justin Allgaier

Barry Cantrell / NKP / Motorsport Images

The final stage got underway with an interesting cast of characters up front. After staying out during the stage break, Andy Lally led the way ahead of Ryan Reed and Alex Labbe. 

Reed soon lost all his track position as he ran off course, as did Labbe after a spin. But Lally remained out front for seven laps before pole-sitter Austin Cindric ran him down and took the lead back with 26 laps remaining. 

There was plenty of action back in the pack as Katherine Legge had a brief off in her NXS debut. Brendan Gaughan and  Lally both had costly offs that put them deep in the running order.

But with less than 20 laps to go, things came to a head up front as Cole Custer got into the back of Justin Allgaier for fifth, sending him spinning. Tyler Reddick obtained a tire rub trying to avoid his teammate, which came apart later in the lap. The No. 9 JRM machine went spinning and brought out the fifth caution of the race.

During the yellow, Daniel Hemric, Allgaier, Custer led a group of drivers who opted to pit for fresh rubber. They restarted tenth on back with Hemric leading them

The green flag waved with just 11 laps to go with Cindric still out front. Going through Turn 1, Elliott Sadler got into the door of Christopher Bell as they battled for second, sending the Joe Gibbs Racing driver spinning into the grass. Tifft moved into second as Cindric continued to lead the way.

But with nine laps to go, Legge appeared to have an engine failure that brought out yet another caution.

The race turned into a six-lap shootout and although no one could match Cindric's pace all day, that changed dramatically in the closing laps. Allgaier and Hemric were cutting through the field with those fresh tires and before long, they were second and third.

Allgaier put massive pressure on Cindric and was able to snatch away with the lead down into Turn 1 with four laps to go. After a mistake by Allgaier, Cindric attempted to reclaim the position, but it was to no avail. He had to settle for second as Allgaier collected his eighth career victory and third of the 2018 season.

When asked where this win ranks for him, Allgaier replied in Victory Lane, "Really, really high.

"That call there at the end is what did it. Austin had the best car today, and I thought we gave it away.

"We've been good this year and to do it on a road course is even better."

Cindric wasn't too upset, knowing he was at the mercy of fresher tires. "Man at least I didn't get outdrove. We did everything we could control today, that's all we gotta ask for. To get a stage win was huge. Executed on every restart, just to bad we couldn't capitalize on a dominant car.

"I had every opportunity to shove him off the track, but I didn't need it that bad."

Hemric finished third, Tifft fifth and Truex fifth. 

Sadler, Custer, Spencer Gallagher, Labbe and Reed rounded out the top-ten.

Stage 1

Cindric started from pole position and was firmly in control through the first set of corners in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang.

The caution flag flew before the first lap was even complete as Dylan Murcott went off at Turn 4 and nosed his car into the tire barrier.

When the race resumed, Cindric once again got away as battle rages behind him. There was a big moment for Brandon Jones, who went off and then spun and 

Brandon Jones spins in front of the field but everyone avoids him! Tough break for Lally, who had to come to a complete stop to avoid running into him.

In the final laps of the stage, the majority of the field opted to pit to gain better track position for the upcoming restart. Among them was Cindric, who gave up the stage win to Allgaier.

Behind Allgaier, it was Sadler, Truex, Ross Chastain, Cindric, Kaz Grala, Gallagher, Legge, Chase Briscoe and Tifft.

Stage 2

Cindric was back in control for the second stage. Back in the pack, Allgaier went four-wide trying to make up lost ground, but ended up getting pushed off into the dirt. 

On Lap 30, the caution was needed again as Ryan Sieg dropped oil on the track. The race went back green with seven laps to go in the stage, but no one could challenge Cindric.

More drama ensued back in the pack as Chase Briscoe went spinning. Cody Ware then clipped the rear of the car as he went by, forcing the Roush Fenway Racing driver to pit road. The race stayed green.

Cindric would ultimately win the stage ahead of Tifft, Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick, Jeremy Clements, Elliott Sadler, Brendan Gaughan and Allgaier.

Cla # Driver 4506 Laps Time Laps Led
1 7 United States Justin Allgaier  Chevrolet 75   8
2 22 United States Austin Cindric  Ford 75 2.095 59
3 21 United States Daniel Hemric  Chevrolet 75 5.427  
4 2 United States Matt Tifft  Chevrolet 75 6.716  
5 11 United States Ryan Truex  Chevrolet 75 7.153  
6 1 United States Elliott Sadler  Chevrolet 75 7.555  
7 00 United States Cole Custer  Ford 75 8.281  
8 23 United States Spencer Gallagher  Chevrolet 75 8.687  
9 36 Canada Alex Labbé  Chevrolet 75 9.132  
10 16 United States Ryan Reed  Ford 75 9.575  
11 20 United States Christopher Bell  Toyota 75 10.455 1
12 3 United States Brendan Gaughan  Chevrolet 75 11.081  
13 18 United States Kyle Benjamin  Toyota 75 11.208  
14 60 United States Chase Briscoe  Ford 75 11.832  
15 90 United States Andy Lally  Chevrolet 75 13.256 7
16 4 United States Ross Chastain  Chevrolet 75 16.162  
17 51 United States Jeremy Clements  Chevrolet 75 16.253  
18 5 United States Michael Annett  Chevrolet 75 16.707  
19 78 United States Tommy Joe Martins  Chevrolet 75 22.508  
20 45 United States Josh Bilicki  Toyota 75 27.144  
21 52 United States David Starr  Chevrolet 75 27.853  
22 42 United States Justin Marks  Chevrolet 75 27.931  
23 19 United States Brandon Jones  Toyota 75 28.721  
24 35 United States Joey Gase  Chevrolet 75 33.596  
25 76 United States Spencer Boyd  Chevrolet 75 33.753  
26 66 Tim Cowen  Chevrolet 75 34.962  
27 61 United States Kaz Grala  Ford 75 35.856  
28   United States Garrett Smithley  Chevrolet 75 37.435  
29 40 United States Chad Finchum  Toyota 75 45.660  
30 15 United Kingdom Katherine Legge  Chevrolet 65 10 laps  
31 9 United States Tyler Reddick  Chevrolet 60 15 laps  
32 38 United States J.J. Yeley  Chevrolet 48 27 laps  
33 8 Cody Ware  Chevrolet 37 38 laps  
34 39 United States Ryan Sieg  Chevrolet 29 46 laps  
35 13 John Jackson  Toyota 23 52 laps  
36 01 United States Vinnie Miller  Chevrolet 14 61 laps  
37 74 United States Stephen Leicht  Dodge 11 64 laps  
38 89 United States Morgan Shepherd  Chevrolet 9 66 laps  
39 93 United States Jeff Green  Chevrolet 6 69 laps  
40 55 Dylan Murcott  Toyota   75 laps  

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