A.J. Allmendinger’s chances of winning looked like they might have gone out the window after receiving a penalty ahead of the final stage.
But, the veteran for Kaulig Racing overcame the disadvantageous call.
Allmendinger, driving the No. 16 car, started the final stage of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race in 30th after a penalty for not staying on pit road long enough.
NASCAR had implemented a series of rules to make the standalone weekend require less bodies on pit road, leveling the playing field and cheapening up what it takes to field a pit crew at a road course.
It bit Allmendinger hard.
But, the road course ace showed why he’s such a heavy favorite when the tour heads to the winding tracks like Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where it was at on Saturday.
Allmendinger sped through the field, inching closer and closer to the leader on the scoreboard that sits on the side of the broadcast view.
He made it to third when NASCAR threw a caution for Jeb Burton’s car getting stuck in the gravel pit.
The race-winning move would happen on the next restart.
The race winning pass for AJ Allmendinger today at Mid-Ohio:
🎥 @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/CHPKLgETnY
— Always Race Day (@AlwaysRaceDay) June 5, 2021
Behind Allmendinger was Kaulig Racing teammate Justin Haley, which was notable for the team thanks to their home shop being just 90 minutes from the race track.
Ty Gibbs finished on the podium and recorded his sixth top-5 finish in just seven starts in his career with the tour. He’s done nothing but finish up front since the start of this season.
Iowa’s Michael Annett came home with a P7 finish, one of his best on a road course, right in front of Josh Berry – who was filling in to run for Jordan Anderson’s No. 31 team.
Cody Ware ended the race in 15th, his first top 20 of the season.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will return to the track at Texas next Saturday, as part of NASCAR’s All-Star Weekend.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Results
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
1. AJ Allmendinger
2. Justin Haley
3. Ty Gibbs
4. Brandon Jones
5. Andy Lally
6. Brandon Brown
7. Michael Annett
8. Josh Berry
9. Ryan Sieg
10. Josh Williams
11. Alex Labbe
12. Daniel Hemric
13. Jade Buford
14. Austin Cindric
15. Cody Ware
16. Jeb Burton
17. Gray Gaulding
18. Ryan Vargas
19. Matt Jaskol
20. Landon Cassill
21. Riley Herbst
22. Colby Howard
23. Matt Mills
24. Jesse Little
25. Preston Pardus
26. Kyle Weatherman
27. Miguel Paludo
28. Ryan Ellis
29. Myatt Snider
30. Joe Graf Jr.
31. Brett Moffitt
32. Kris Wright
33. Jeremy Clements
34. Jeffrey Earnhardt
35. Justin Allgaier
36. David Starr
37. Bayley Currey
38. Harrison Burton
39. Tommy Joe Martins
40. Noah Gragson
