Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series will be in action at Dover International Speedway while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is off. The Monster Energy Series heads to the first race of the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Playoffs, while the Xfinity Series Playoffs enters the final race of the Round of 12. Check out the full schedule below, which is subject to change.

Note: All times are ET

MORE: How to find NBCSN

SUNDAY, Oct. 7
Run of Show
2 p.m.: Presentation of Colors by Dover Air Force Base Color Guard
2:00:10 p.m.: Invocation by Dan Schafer Pastor of Calvary Assembly of God in Heightstown, N.J.
2:00:50 p.m.: National Anthem by The Combined Choir of Calvary Baptist Church from Dover, Del.
2:02:20 p.m.: Fly-over by US Navy Training Squadron Seven (VT-7) from Meridian, Miss., flying the T-45C Goshawk
2:07:20 p.m.: Command for “Drivers, Start your engines” by Tamara Ward, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development for Camping World Holdings, Inc.
2:16:50 p.m.: Green flag for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander Outdoors 400 (400 laps, 400 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN1, 4) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
5:15 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

FRIDAY, Oct. 5
11-11:50 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2) (Results)
12:05-12:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
2:30-3:20 p.m.: Xfinity Series final practice, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
3:40 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
9:30 a.m.: Ryan Blaney
9:45 a.m.: Joey Logano
10 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
10:40 a.m.: Justin Allgaier, Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric
12:15 p.m.: Kyle Larson
12:30 p.m.: Bubba Wallace
1:30 p.m.: Chase Briscoe
4:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

RELATED: VIP experience for Ford fan

SATURDAY, Oct. 6
11-11:55 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series second practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
12:05 p.m.:Xfinity Series Pole Qualifying, NBCSN comes on 12:30 p.m. ET/NBC Sports App carries at noon ET (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
1-2:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
3 p.m.: Xfinity Series Bar Harbor 200 presented by Sea Watch International (200 laps, 200 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3, 5) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
5 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Xfinity Series race

 

 

Posted on by Staff Report

What channels are NASCAR races on this week? We answer that and give you the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET. 

MORE: Get the NBC Sports App | How to find FS1 | Gets FOX Sports Go | How to find NBCSN

MONDAY, Oct. 1
5:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1 (re-air)
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
Noon: Motorsports Monday (with hosts Woody Cain and Joey Meier)

TUESDAY, Oct. 2
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: Glory Road: Blacker, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6:30 p.m.: Glory Road: NASCAR Goes Road Racing, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
9 p.m.: Glory Road: Blacker, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
9:30 p.m.: Glory Road: NASCAR Goes Road Racing, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)

On MRN
9 a.m.: The Many Hats of Jack Roush–Episode 3
7 p.m.: NASCAR Live (with host Mike Bagley)

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3
midnight: Glory Road: Blacker, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
12:30 a.m.: Glory Road: NASCAR Goes Road Racing, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
Noon: Crew Call (with hosts Sammi Jo Francis and Rocko Williams)
1 p.m.: NASCAR Coast to Coast (with hosts Kyle Rickey & Hannah Newhouse)

THURSDAY, Oct. 4
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5:30 p.m.: The Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

FRIDAY, Oct. 5
11 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2)
Noon: Xfinity Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
1 p.m.: NASCAR K&N Pro Series West: Meredian Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series final practice, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
3:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2)
5:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice (re-air), NBCSN

On MRN
10 a.m.: The Inside Line (with host Tyler Burnett)

SATURDAY, Oct. 6
11 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series second practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
12:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series pole qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (qualifying session starts at noon on NBC Sports App) (Canada: TSN App)
1 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
3 p.m.: Xfinity Series Bar Harbor 200 presented by Sea Watch International, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3, 5)
5:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

SUNDAY, Oct. 7
noon: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
1:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander Outdoors 400, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN1, 4)
5:30 p.m.: NASCAR Monster Energy Series Post Race Dover, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
7 p.m.: Racing Roots: Bubba Wallace, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Ryan Blaney took the lead from Stage 1 winner Kyle Larson during a pit cycle on Lap 37 of the Bank of America Roval 400 and held on for 14 laps to win Stage 2 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

RELATED: Stage 2 results | Follow Final Stage

It was Blaney’s sixth stage win of the season.

Jimmie Johnson finished Stage 2 in second, while Kurt Busch  — looking for his second win of the season — was third. Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five.

The stage was free of cautions, perhaps with drivers aiming for long-term pit-cycle positioning over focusing on passing cars, and setting up what should be a particularly intense and jumbled Final Stage.

With five laps to go, however, playoff driver Aric Almirola scraped the wall trying to avoid the No. 24 of William Byron, who had a tire going down. Almirola then had an uncontrolled tire penalty during his trip to pit road.

Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski both spun coming through the chicane with two laps to go in the stage. The No. 2 of Keselowski sustained a tire rub. They placed 11th and 12th, respectively.

Among the 16 playoff drivers, Almirola was the lowest-running in the stage at 36th.

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1  Ryan Blaney  Team Penske 10
2  Jimmie Johnson  Hendrick Motorsports 9
3  Kurt Busch  Stewart-Haas Racing 8
4  Joey Logano  Team Penske 7
5  Clint Bowyer  Stewart-Haas Racing 6
6  Chase Elliott  Hendrick Motorsports 5
7  Austin Dillon  Richard Childress Racing 4
8  Alex Bowman  Hendrick Motorsports 3
9  Kyle Larson  Chip Ganassi Racing 2
10  Daniel Hemric  Richard Childress Racing 1


Stage 1

Kyle Larson took the lead from polesitter Kurt Busch on Lap 7 of the Bank of America Roval 400 and held on for 19 laps to win Stage 1 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

RELATED: Stage 1 results 

It was Larson’s fourth stage win of the season.

Busch led six laps and finished Stage 1 in second, while Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer — in danger of missing the Round of 12 cut — was third. Road course ace Martin Truex Jr. and Watkins Glen International winner Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.

In need of a win to advance to the Round of 12, Denny Hamlin ran into an issue early when he came to pit road for an unscheduled stop on Lap 6 with a hood issue. He finished the stage in 19th.

The first caution of the day came out on Lap 13 when the No. 51 of Stanton Barrett came into Turn 1 a little too hot, slamming into the wall and taking significant damage. The incident ended his race for a 40th-place finish in his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series result since 2006.

Among the 16 playoff drivers, Aric Almirola was the lowest-running in the stage at 34th.

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1  Kyle Larson  Chip Ganassi Racing 10
2  Kurt Busch  Stewart-Haas Racing 9
3  Clint Bowyer  Stewart-Haas Racing 8
4  Martin Truex Jr.  Furniture Row Racing 7
5  Chase Elliott  Hendrick Motorsports 6
6  Jimmie Johnson  Hendrick Motorsports 5
7  Kyle Busch  Joe Gibbs Racing 4
8  AJ Allmendinger  JTG Daugherty Racing 3
9  Alex Bowman  Hendrick Motorsports 2
10  Ryan Blaney  Team Penske 1

 

Posted on by Zack Albert

CONCORD, N.C. — Leavine Family Racing said Sunday that 38-year-old Kasey Kahne hopes to return to NASCAR competition next weekend.

Kahne has missed the last four Monster Energy Series races since being treated for heat exhaustion after the Sept. 2 event at Darlington Raceway. Regan Smith has filled in for Kahne in LFR’s No. 95 Chevrolet.

RELATED: Monster Energy Series standings

The organization indicated through its social media accounts that Kahne would undergo a test this week. Pending successful results and medical clearance, Kahne would be back in the driver’s seat for next Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Dover International Speedway.

Kahne announced Aug. 16 that this season would be his final full-time campaign in NASCAR competition. Kahne moved to Leavine Family Racing this season after a six-year term with Hendrick Motorsports.

Kahne has 18 career victories in NASCAR’s top division. He’s scored one top-five finish in 25 events this season.

Posted on by Staff Report

Ever wonder what goes on in a driver meeting? We’re here to help.

This year, we’ll publish the actual rules video your favorite Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will watch before climbing into their stock cars. Above is the video for theSeries Bank of America Roval 400 (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Editor’s note: The penalty for short-cutting a chicane changed after this video was published. Instead of a pass-through penalty, drivers will be required to come to a complete stop in a designated area. Read more about the new rule.

Posted on by Staff Report

Hailie Deegan had one unconquered goal on her ambitious 2018 checklist. On Saturday night in Idaho, she got it. And made history in the process.

Deegan won the K&N Pro Series West race Sept. 29 at Meridian Speedway, becoming the first girl to ever win in the K&N Pro Series. She took the lead from Bill McAnally Racing teammate Cole Rouse on the white-flag lap in the NAPA Auto Parts/Idaho 208.

Hailie Deegan celebrates her win
Loren Orr/NASCAR via Getty Images

The 17-year-old NASCAR Next driver tweeted earlier this week her checklist of goals for 2019, with all but the final one checked off. They were, in order: Earn a top-10 finish; qualify in the top five; finish in the top five; qualify in the top three; finish in the top three; lead a race; win a pole; WIN A RACE, with the all caps emphasis Deegan’s own.

PHOTOS: Images from Deegan’s historic victory

“Oh my god,” Deegan said in Victory Lane. “This has to be the best day of my life right here. It doesn’t get any better than this. People don’t understand how many days, how many hours I’ve put into this. How much work I’ve done to get to this moment. It’s just amazing … this is the happiest day of my life. We did it.”

Deegan did it by initiating contact on Rouse, something she had contemplated the night before.

“I was in bed last night thinking, ‘If it comes down, last lap, I’m in second, I’m a car length off of him, what am I going to do?'” Deegan said. “And I found that Turn 1 spot. I knew what exactly I had to do there. I was doing it to some other people just getting right under them to get them a little light to get them, not wrecking loose, nothing crazy, but enough to just get a little under them and make the pass happen. We did that. I knew exactly what I had to do the last lap. I did it, we executed, and we made it happen.”

WATCH: Inside Victory Lane with Deegan and her team

A dejected Rouse after the race said he won’t cut Deegan any slack over the final two races. Rouse finished second to Deegan, with Derek Kraus, Derek Thorn and Ryan Partridge completing the top five.

Deegan’s pole award came in the series’ previous race, at the dirt track in Las Vegas two weeks before her breakthrough at Meridian’s quarter-mile oval. Her previous best finish was second, accomplished twice, including last week.

Through 12 (of 14) K&N Pro Series West races, Deegan has five top-five finishes and 10 top 10s, along with her one win. The series returns to the track Oct. 13 in Roseville, California.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

Kurt Busch is set to start from the pole position for Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 (2 p.m. ET on NBC/NBC Sports App, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).  There were three eventful practice sessions this weekend, giving players plenty to digest. We’ve dissected the numbers to offer a suggested lineup worthy of your Fantasy Live consideration as you make roster decisions.

PLAY NOW: Set your lineup | How the playoff game works

Remember that the garage locks at the end of Stage 2. Also, your garage play can only be swapped for a driver of similar classification. (A playoff garage driver can only be swapped for a playoff driver in your lineup; a non-playoff garage driver can only be swapped for a non-playoff driver in your lineup.)

Cars that will move to the rear: Denny Hamlin (backup car), Bubba Wallace (backup car), Erik Jones (backup car) and Brad Keselowski (backup car).

RJ Kraft’s revised Fantasy Live lineup following the lineup being set:
Playoff driver 1: Chase Elliott
Playoff driver 2: Jimmie Johnson
Non-playoff driver 1: AJ Allmendinger
Non-playoff driver 2: Chris Buescher
Garage: Martin Truex Jr.

MORE: Fantasy analysis for Charlotte | Driver stats | 10-lap averages | Lineup 

Analysis: The Fantasy Live Playoff Game is in Week 3 and it’s an elimination race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs! This is the first race that the Charlotte road course will be used in the sport’s top series, so the only data we have to go on are practice times and qualifying — no past history from other races. You can glean a little insight into a driver’s road course history, but I would focus on the here and now of how they looked on this 2.28-mile, 17-turn layout.

I am making a strategic move to go with playoff drivers in my active lineup that will likely be chasing stage points as they look to advance to the Round of 12. Chase Elliott — the most recent road course winner — has had speed all weekend, qualified fourth and at only +10 in the standings he will likely go after stage points just as he did at Sonoma in June. He has scored the most points on road courses this season among the playoff drivers. Jimmie Johnson is just on the outside looking in at -6 to the cutline. He doesn’t have to a win, but a good, strong run should do the trick — especially if someone in front of him in the playoff picture finds trouble. He led second practice, topped the 10-lap board in final practice and a solid qualifying position (sixth) has him in position for stage points. If you look elsewhere but want a similar type of play, Clint Bowyer would be a solid choice.

On the non-playoff side, I am taking the JTG Daugherty Racing teammates — AJ Allmendinger and Chris Buescher. Allmendinger qualified second and with the news that he is out of ride for 2019 he should be going for broke in this race. He’s had speed and I expect him to be in the mix all day. He is a strong road racer and already a popular Fantasy Live play as he is owned by more than half the players. Buescher is an underrated road racer, himself, and is tied for the second-most points earned on road courses among non-playoff drivers. Other drivers I considered were Michael McDowell and Daniel Hemric as both have shown some good speed this weekend.

In the garage, I am taking Martin Truex Jr. I think this layout sets up perfectly for the reigning champion who has finished in the top two in the past three road races — winning two of them — and has been strong on the oval layout at Charlotte. He was top five on the speed chart in both of Saturday’s practices so the speed is there. Not quite sure if Cole Pearn and the No. 78 team will strategize similarly to how they handled Sonoma, punting the stages and aiming for the best position to win the race, which is why I will put him in the garage. Truex is already locked into the Round of 12 so he can afford to just go after the race win and nothing else if necessary.

For my stage and race picks, I might be better off just throwing a dart at some names and getting it right that way. Strategy will likely be a factor on these, so this feels like more of a guess than usual. I am taking Elliott to win Stage 1, Bowyer to win Stage 2 and Truex to win the race.

 

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

The twists and turns of the new 2.28-mile, 17-turn Charlotte Motor Speedway road course and oval combination will be a sight to see for fans, but a race full of unknowns for drivers and teams.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will line ’em up for the first time on the brand-new circuit for the Bank of America Roval 400 (2 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the Round of 16 finale of the Playoffs. It’s the perfect storm of pressure to move further in the postseason, mixed with the anxiety of tackling what’s sure to be a riveting event.

Though there’s one driver who won’t be sweating it, more so than all the rest.

That’s Kyle Busch.

RELATED: Starting lineup | Full schedule for Charlotte

Sure, like Busch, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. really don’t have much to worry about since they’re locked into the Round of 12. Add Kevin Harvick to that list once he merely starts the race and you have four competitors out to win the inaugural event or potentially crash out trying without cause for concern.

But Busch came out of the gate swinging, rocketing to the top of the speed charts during Friday’s opening practice session, hustling the No. 18 Toyota around the course for the fastest lap at 106.397 mph.

In Saturday’s early practice, Busch posted the fifth-fastest time at 104.753 mph, and his lap in the final session landed him 11th on the board at 104.382 mph.

Busch also posted the fastest lap times in both the morning and afternoon sessions during testing back in July. Witnessing July’s test sessions firsthand with the full collection of drivers, Busch’s art of attacking the road course was visually apparent.

A bit of work lies ahead for Busch to get to the front in Sunday’s race after a 14th-place qualifying effort, a tougher task than usual as finding the best places to pass will pose the biggest challenge with all 40 cars on the course at once for the first time. As long as he can stay out of trouble, the speed Busch has shown throughout the weekend should help that cause.

MORE: Take a lap around the Charlotte road course

Coming off his seventh win of the 2018 season at Richmond, Busch has a wave of momentum on his side. He’s also shown road-course prowess at Sonoma and Watkins Glen throughout his career, with two wins apiece at each track and average finishes of 16.2 and 9.4, respectively.

Gaining as many stage points and playoff points is always a top priority, and Busch isn’t in dire straits to collect them with the cushion he built during the regular season.

With all that in mind, Busch can go all out for the win without much consequence. And when “Rowdy” has a fast car and nothing to lose, it’s always scary for the competition.

Posted on by Staff Report

CONCORD, N.C. — Three burning questions facing the field (and our writers) heading into Sunday’s inaugural Bank of America Roval 400 (2 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s combination road course and oval:

MORE: Starting lineup | Race-day rundown

1. Which driver above the cutoff line should be the most worried?

Allie Davison: Alex Bowman has two top-15 finishes on road courses in 2018, but the Roval seems to demand a different kind of taming. He is only one point ahead of Ryan Blaney, who currently holds the final transfer position. The No. 88 will fire off third on Sunday, but being up front could be where danger lies for mistakes or getting caught in messy wrecks or traffic.

Jessica Ruffin: Austin Dillon hit the wall of the backstretch chicane in opening practice and while his crew was able to repair the No. 3, there’s still damage. He’s also never finished better than 16th at a road course and is rolling off the grid mid-pack — a scary place to be — in 24th. Dillon may have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway before, but this Roval is a whole different game that he may have trouble playing.

Zack Albert: Realize he’s 23 points to the good and in a relatively comfortable spot entering Sunday’s event, but Aric Almirola’s weekend performance thus far means he might be cutting it close. He didn’t crack the top 20 in any of the three practices and his No. 10 Ford sustained damage in a Saturday crash in Turn 3.

RELATED: Playoff standings | Roval rules updated 

2. What have we learned about the track?

Allie Davison: If you miss your line, the chance of you spinning out or wrecking are seemingly much, much higher than normal. Saturday’s Xfinity Series race was the first time we’ve seen cars attempt passing or go two-wide racing … and it’s even crazier than originally thought.

Jessica Ruffin: Expect some new faces near the front; road courses typically have their ringers, but this track is even more of a wild card. ‘Big 3’ driver Martin Truex Jr. has been strong, but we’ve also seen speed from drivers like outside pole-sitter AJ Allmendinger, Michael McDowell and even Daniel Hemric in the No. 8, making his second-career Monster Energy Series start.

Zack Albert: This might be more of a confirmed hunch than a learning, but the course is exacting. We knew that the scarcity of run-off room would likely mean damage in the case of a misstep, but the curbing (including the feared “turtles”) have been especially bruising.

MORE: Drivers, beware of ‘turtles’

3. Will we see a surprise winner?

Allie Davison: Daniel Hemric has logged plenty of laps around the Charlotte road course. The double-duty job may just be the ticket to cap off a weekend that he’ll forever remember, as it was announced Friday that he would race in the Monster Energy Series full-time in 2019 with Richard Childress Racing. He placed 10th in the Saturday NXS event.

Jessica Ruffin: Hendrick Motorsports has shown speed this weekend, particularly Jimmie Johnson; the No. 48 Chevrolet topped the 10-lap leaderboard in final practice, led second practice and qualified sixth. Johnson needs a strong run to advance to the Round of 12 and with his veteran driving experience, the tricky Charlotte road course seems like the place where he could do more than that by finally snapping that 51-race winless streak.

Zack Albert: Let’s give a nod to AJ Allmendinger, the front-row starter finishing out his term this season in the No. 47 Chevrolet. His road-racing pedigree has always shown up on non-oval tracks and would make for a fond farewell to JTG Daugherty Racing.

MORE: Allmendinger offers frank take on ’19 plans

Posted on by Zack Albert

CONCORD, N.C. — Justin Allgaier’s postseason aspirations were riding high two weeks ago as the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season champ with a solid accumulation of playoff points bolstering his hopes.

Two events into the seven-race playoffs, Allgaier sits in limbo after crashes in consecutive events. The latest snare struck midway through Saturday’s Race for the Cure 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s newfangled oval-road course, but both snags have a common thread: costly contact with the Team Penske No. 22 Ford of Austin Cindric.

“I think this playoff format has kind of disconnected some people’s brains and they drive a little bit over their head,” said Allgaier, who wound up 15th to Cindric’s third place in Saturday’s race. “It’s a shame, too, because it took us out of a good day. That’s really disappointing.”

RELATED: Full Charlotte results | Xfinity Series Playoffs standings

Allgaier was leaving pit road on Lap 27, his JR Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet blending back onto the course in formation behind Matt Tifft’s No. 2 Chevy on the short chute leading to Turn 3. He returned to the circuit alongside Cindric, who was closing on the slower No. 35 car of Joey Gase.

Cindric veered up into the right-rear fender of Allgaier’s car, which looped around and was slammed by Ryan Sieg’s No. 39 Chevrolet. Allgaier continued, but sizable damage to the left-rear wheel hampered his chances of contending.

WATCH: Allgaier and Sieg make contact

Cindric accepted blame for the incident, but pointed out that the blend area for the new 2.28-mile circuit’s pit exit could be more clearly defined.

“Justin and I talked on pit road. He wasn’t happy, but it didn’t seem like something he wanted to fight about or anything,” Cindric said. “He just said that was poor racing and we can do better than that. So I said, ‘Yeah, I completely agree.’ Kind of move on. I’m sure that doesn’t help him super-great in points, but I think he was still able to recover and it didn’t really hurt his day too much. Obviously, unfortunate to have that happen in the race, especially when it didn’t really even matter, when we were all pitting off strategy, but obviously you’ve got to minimize those errors.”

Allgaier discounted the blend-line theory, instead blaming his second straight run-in with Cindric on the rookie’s unnecessary haste. The two collided the previous weekend at Richmond Raceway, with Allgaier receiving the brunt of the damage. He was on the short end of their contact Saturday, prompting Allgaier into a civil but animated discussion with a Team Penske crew member in the Xfinity Series garage.

“We had no issues merging out on the race track. That wasn’t the problem,” Allgaier said. “The car that wrecked me was impatient because he was behind a car he felt wasn’t up to speed. Instead of trying to pass that car and losing the spot to us again, he just decided to drive into me and spin me out, so in my mind, it’s pretty cut and dried what happened. Just dumb racing.”

Allgaier recovered enough to return to the top 10 in the final stage, but repeated pit stops for repairs led to the sour-tasting finish. The result knocked the postseason’s top seed down to seventh in the playoff standings, 11 points above the cut-off point with one race remaining in the opening round. The driver who sits on the cut line as the provisional first driver outside the playoff picture? Cindric, who sits nine points behind eighth-ranking Ross Chastain.

The Xfinity Series playoff field will be trimmed from 12 drivers to eight after next Saturday’s race at Dover International Speedway. Allgaier won at the Monster Mile’s most recent Xfinity race in May, but said there was no such thing as a safe place in the current standings.

“You want to go run good — you don’t want to get crashed — and you try to gain as many points as you can,” Allgaier said. “That’s what we tried to do today, figure out how to gain as many points as we can. Dover’s been good for us, it’s always been good for us, but all in all anything can happen and we can miss this first round. You can’t say never.”