Justin Allgaier secured his 32nd career victory and fourth win of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series by out‑maneuvering Brent Crews in the final laps at Nashville Superspeedway.
Race dynamics and decisive moments
Allgaier reclaimed the lead from Brent Crews with roughly 15 laps remaining after a prolonged duel that saw both drivers trade positions multiple times. Crews had seized the front earlier, exploiting a suspected loose‑wheel issue on Love’s car and benefitting from an extended pit stop by the No. 2 team.
Late‑stage green‑flag pit cycles shuffled the field, and Cleetus McFarland’s penalty‑related spin added further chaos. Despite Crews’ bumper‑to‑bumper push, Allgaier steadied his Chevrolet and pulled away to take the checkered flag.
Stage winners and key incidents
Stage 1 opened with J.J. Love dominating from pole, extending his lead to over six seconds before a slide by teammate Cleetus McFarland forced a brief loss of momentum. Love ultimately claimed the opening stage.
During the break, Taylor Gray suffered a flat left‑front tire, dropping him to the rear. On the restart, Allgaier retook the lead and, after a near‑collision with Love on the stage‑ending lap, secured the second stage win.
Stage 3 saw Love lose ground due to a prolonged pit stop while crews addressed possible wheel stud issues. Crews capitalized, moving into first, but Allgaier’s aggressive charge in the closing laps restored his advantage for the overall victory.
Top ten finishers
- 1. Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet) – 1:53:16.849
- 2. Brent Crews (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota) – +1.403 seconds
- 3. William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota) – +2.934 seconds
- 4. Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team, Chevrolet) – +4.864 seconds
- 5. Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota) – +6.961 seconds
- 6. Corey Day (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- 7. Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- 8. Kyle Larson (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- 9. Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
- 10. Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
Allgaier, visibly moved, dedicated his win to those affected by recent personal hardships, mentioning “thoughts and prayers to Samantha, Kyle, Brexton and Lennix.” The series now pauses for a weekend off before reconvening at Pocono Raceway on June 13.
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