Allmendinger surges to Nationwide win
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — A.J. Allmendinger slid past Justin Allgaier with seven laps to go, then defended his lead through a late restart and a pair of nerve-testing greenwhite-checkered overtime finishes to win Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America.
For Allmendinger, it was another step toward rebuilding his racing career after sitting out part of last season because of a violation of NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy. It also was a return to victory lane at Road America for Allmendinger, who won at the four-mile road course in Central Wisconsin in the Champ Car Series in 2006.
Allgaier finished second, followed by Parker Kligerman, Owen Kelly and Sam Hornish Jr.
Billy Johnson led on a restart with eight to go, but he slid wide in Turn 5 and was passed by Allgaier and Allmendinger. Allmendinger then made the decisive move one lap later, snatching the lead from Allgaier at the top of the hill in Turn 6.
He’d have to defend his lead on three more restarts, fending off a charge from Allgaier with three laps to go and then facing two green-white- checkered finishes — NASCAR’s version of overtime.
It was a big step for Allmendinger, whose racing career took a wrong turn last year when he failed a NASCAR drug test, resulting in a suspension and the loss of his ride at Penske Racing.
Allmendinger, who said he took a pill offered by a friend that turned out to be Adderall, was reinstated after completing a NASCAR-affiliated recovery program, and is getting a limited second chance with the Penske team this
year.
DEVELOPMENT
Crash kills driver at Le Mans: Danish driver Allan Simonsen died Saturday following a crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the first driver fatality at the high-speed endurance event in France since 1997.
Race organizers said the 34-year-old Simonsen was taken to the hospital after his Aston Martin No. 95 crashed about 10 minutes into the race. The Dane spun at high speed and his car skidded into the barrier at a corner where cars reach speeds of up to 105 mph.