Justin Allgaier Wins Nashville Xfinity Race After Feeling He Failed His Team the Weekend Prior
After sweeping the opening two stages, Justin Allgaier ultimately won his third race of the 2025 season with an aggressive restart with 47 laps to go. Allgaier lined up behind the No. 20 of Brandon Jones, restarting third with Connor Zilisch on the outside of the front row. Jones was on older tires than the rest of the leaders, and Allgaier took this as his chance to move to the lead. The 2024 champion dove low on the restart to move past Jones, as Zilsich took the high line, Allgaier took the lead entering turn one, and secured it leaving turn two.
From there, Allgaier was in control until the end of the race, with four laps remaining, a car got loose and kissed the wall, nearly collecting Allgaier.
This was Allgaier's third win of the season, tying Austin Hill. With it, Allgaier extends his championship lead by collecting the maximum 61 points for winning both stages, running the fastest lap, and taking the win.
"Racing was a lot of fun with Connor there, and I knew whoever got out front was going to be the winner," Allgaier told The CW Sports.
Zilisch settles for his second runner-up finish in a row, as an oval win in 2025 continues to evade the rookie driver.
Allgaier's first message after winning was that he felt like he had failed his team with his decision not to pit late last week at Charlotte, leading him to finish fourth after dominating late in the race.
"I failed you all last week, I need to redeem myself this week," Allgaier said over the radio.
Allgaier stayed out last week when he saw that the No. 00 of Sheldon Creed was making the same decision, he assumed he could pull more people to stay out on the track but instead the majority of the leaders pitted for fresh tires, which turned out to be the race winning move as Allgaier feel back to fourth.
"Being the leader is a tough spot in that regard," Allgaier told CW Sports last week. "I saw that the No. 00 was heading to stay out anyway, and to be honest with you, you know, Jim Pohlman, this whole 7 team, they do an amazing job, and I should have just come down pit road."
This week, when asked if it was the machine or the driver that deserved flowers for the win, he responded with the crew.
"These guys right here," Allgaier said. "They deserve this more than anything. I screwed them over last week for making a pit call with a car that was equally on rails."
For Zilisch, a second-place finish didn't come with a redemption arc as he lost his chance at a win on restart for the second straight week.
"I thought I might be able to get back by him, but clean air was everything," Zilisch said.
It's the second week in a row I've finished second thanks to a restart."
Zilisch, while disappointed in a second-place run, is happy to learn as much as possible by running against past champions and consistent winners during his rookie campaign.
Sam Mayer, Zilisch and Allgaier's JR Motorsports teammate, finished third with Creed in second. Ross Chastain, after running through the field several times, settled for a fifth-place finish ahead of Aric Almirola and Austin Hill.
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