JR Motorsports is 1-2 in Xfinity Series race
DOVER, Del. — Justin Allgaier won a $100,000 bonus by holding off JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler in a door-to-door sprint through the final turn to win the Xfinity Series race Saturday at Dover International Speedway.
Sadler used lapped traffic to set up his attempt to snatch the lead from Allgaier and played it perfectly as he pulled alongside Allgaier. The two Chevrolets touched, and Allgaier wiggled but held on for the victory.
“That race, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” Allgaier said. “You can never think about these finishes, about how they are going to come. When we were coming to the checkered and we were in the fence, I was thinking how disappointed I would be (to lose).”
He’s the 10th Xfinity Series winner in as many races this season. Dating to last year, a record 13 drivers have won. Allgaier collected the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus prize from series sponsor Xfinity with the victory. His first win of the season — and his first at the concrete mile track — comes after three runner-up finishes this season.
Sadler led 33 laps and finished .306 second behind Allgaier on a good day for the team owned by retired Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick. Another JR Motorsports driver, rookie Tyler Reddick, was fifth; JRM’s Michael Annett was 15th.
“I have three great teammates, and the amount of respect Elliott showed me out there was great,” Allgaier said. “Obviously, we got together coming to the checkered, but I expected that. He had to do what he had to do, and we did what we had to do.
“This whole team is incredible, and to be part of this group is something special. I think we have a great shot at a championship.”
Daniel Hemric finished third, with Christopher Bell fourth.
NASCAR started the race one hour earlier than scheduled to avoid rain and completed the event without interruption.
Trouble at the track
Authorities said a former NASCAR crew member broke the jaw of a team owner Friday while they were arguing at the track.
According to a news release from Dover police, 33-year-old Lawrence Hayden of Concord, N.C., and 56-year-old Xfinity Series race team owner Jerry Hataway were arguing about Hayden’s employment when Hayden began punching Hataway.
Hataway was treated at the track before being taken to a hospital with a broken jaw.
Hayden was charged with second-degree assault and issued a $500 secured bond. It wasn’t clear if he had a lawyer.