SONOMA, Calif. – AJ Allmendinger had just won the first stage of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 when his race – and his engine – fell apart.
Allmendinger started fifth and quickly worked his way into second place during the first stage, only to surrender the runner-up spot to Kevin Harvick on Lap 15 of the 25-lap stage. But when Martin Truex Jr. and Harvick pitted early on Lap 22, Allmendinger inherited the top spot and held it through the green/checkered flag, collecting the first stage win of his career.
Allmendinger brought the No. 47 JTG-Daugherty Chevrolet to pit road during the caution between stages and restarted 17th on Lap 30. Four circuits later, however, his race came to an end when Allmendinger missed a shift and blew the engine in his Chevy, ruining one of his best chances to win a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.
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When asked by FS1’s Jamie Little what led to the missed shift, Allmendinger’s response was blunt.
“Me,” he said. “I haven’t missed a shift on a road course in 10 years. Just me. I was trying to be so patient, so smooth with it; it was unexpected. It’s on me. I let everybody down here. The car was good; I don’t know if it was race-winning. It’s all on me. I don’t know what else to say. I just let everybody down.”
Contributing: Staff reports