Race 16 of 33: Sci Apps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Track Specs: 1.058-mile oval / 200 laps
Race Winner: Christopher Bell
Allgaier's finish: 4th
Kvapil's finish: 5th
Smith's finish: 12th
Jones’ finish: 14th
Mayer's finish: 19th
Justin Allgaier
Justin Allgaier earned a hard-fought fourth-place finish on Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Allgaier, who scored the most combined stage points on the day with 11 and the most points overall with 44, gained 21 positions over the final 100-lap stanza and battled through NASCAR’s version of overtime to come home with the strong top-five finish. Additionally, the driver of the BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet has climbed his way up to third in the championship standings by virtue of today's solid run and now sits just 42 points out of the series lead.
"Today was definitely a battle. It just shows how this entire BRANDT Professional Agriculture team never gives up and keeps fighting all the way to the finish. To be able to drive through the field like we did and come away with a top-five is great. I wish we could've left here with the win, but to have the kind of speed we had today and to fight our way back like we did gives me all the confidence in the world as we hit this summer stretch."
Carson Kvapil
In his first start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Carson Kvapil led 24 laps and was in the battle for the victory heading into NASCAR’s version of overtime. Lining up fifth for the overtime restart, Kvapil fought hard for position before ultimately taking the checkered flag in fifth on Saturday afternoon. With today's strong fifth-place effort, the driver of the Clarience Technologies Chevrolet has now finished inside the top five in three of his four career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and has an astounding average finish of 7.5.
"If you told me at the beginning of the day we were going to finish in the top five, I'd have been pretty happy. The Clarience Technologies Chevrolet was good all day, and it was great to be in position to fight it out there for the win in the closing laps. Passing 31 cars like that today, it just gives you a lot of confidence moving forward. I also got to make my first green-flag pit stop today, and we were there at the end, so it was a good run. Thank you to Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) and all the guys on this No. 88 team. I can't wait for the next one."
Sammy Smith
For the second consecutive week, Mother Nature forced NASCAR to cancel practice and qualifying. According to NASCAR's metrics and his solid finish last weekend, Sammy Smith was set to start sixth in the Sci Apps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet lived in the top five during Stage One and racked up nine stage points with a second-place finish. Pitting on the stage break for four tires and fuel, Smith continued to be among the contenders as spotter Tyler Monn helped keep the nose clean and crew chief Adam Wall made good calls on adjustments. Smith was able to move up to 11th to close out the first half of the race. The pit crew gained sports on pit road and Smith was able to come out sixth after service. Fighting through multiple cautions and a green-white-checkered finish at the end, Smith was able to finish a solid 12th
"I'm proud of my guys this weekend. We showed up with a great car, especially with not being able to practice or qualify to know where we were for sure. Our pit crew brought its A game too. With every stop, our No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet gained spots off pit road. Those are the pieces that need to keep coming together. I know we'll be in Victory Lane soon."
Brandon Jones
Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 9 Menards/Watts Chevrolet, took the green flag in the 29th position at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after Mother Nature caused qualifying to be cancelled Friday afternoon. After utilizing the first several cautions for adjustments, crew chief Phillip Bell made the call for Jones not to pit, allowing him to take the green-and-white-checkered flag within the top 15. During the next 45 laps, Jones worked his way into the top 10 and maintained position finishing the second stage in eighth, earning valuable stage points. After a long green flag run at the beginning of the third and final stage, Jones was forced to pit under green for both tires and fuel. This would put him one lap down, but due to another caution he was given the lap back via the free pass. While several more cautions sent the race into NASCAR's version of overtime, Jones worked his way back into the top 15 where he would ultimately take the checkered flag in 14th.
"It is always tough to go out and race after not being able to practice or qualifying, but this No. 9 team worked hard to make sure I had a car capable of moving through the field. While we did not get the finish that we wanted we will use this momentum to get us into Victory Lane next weekend in Nashville."
Sam Mayer
Sam Mayer, driver of the No. 1 10X Health Chevrolet, battled hard in the top 10 all day in contention for a solid finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway until a caution flag with 16 laps to go sent the young driver for a spin during a multi-car accident. Mayer struggled with both tight and loose conditions during Stage One but fought hard for his first stage win of the season, gaining a valuable championship point. Mayer continued the drive toward the front after a slow stop under yellow sent the Franklin, Wis. native back a few spots but held on for a 12th-place Stage Two finish. Mayer started to find his line in the final stage and started his charge back toward the front of the pack. Following the eighth caution of the day, the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet started 13th and was caught up in an unfortunate multi-car crash to finish 19th. Mayer still holds the 10th spot in the NXS point standings.
"New Hampshire is definitely not one of my favorite tracks, but overall we did have a pretty good day until the end there. Unfortunately, that is just racing and I am super proud of how my guys bounced back and we were still able to snag a top-20 finish. Looking forward to continuing this momentum in Nashville."