The NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) made its second and final stop of the season at Kentucky Speedway for the final night race of the year Friday was a wet one at Kentucky with rain forecasted most of the day, including during practice. The first practice session on Friday afternoon started on time, but only lasted for about 40 minutes of the originally scheduled 1 hour, 30 minute session due to rain. After a break in the weather, the track began the drying process with hopes of getting the final NNS practice session in. Unfortunately, more rain fell and NASCAR ultimately cancelled the final practice session. Shortened practice didn’t stop Allgaier from continuing his qualifying streak of all top-10 starting spots at Kentucky. He posted the ninth-fastest lap time at 30.616 seconds. After being moved to the rear of the field for the start of the Kentucky 300 Allgaier worked his way up to the top-10. With a tire going down in the closing laps, Allgaier was able to hang on to the No. 31 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet Camaro and bring it home in the 17th position for Turner Scott Motorsports.
Saturday night’s green flag waved under clear skies and cool conditions at Kentucky. Allgaier was moved to the rear of the field during the pace laps for unapproved adjustments. Even though he started in the back, Allgaier was able to work his way to the 16th position by lap 18. Allgaier maintained the 16th position until the competition caution came out at lap 27. Allgaier radioed to crew chief Scott Zipadelli that he needed help turning in the center, but that his entry was stable. After visiting pit road for two right-side tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment, Allgaier restarted 10th on lap 30. Unfortunately, on lap 31 Allgaier made contact with another competitor causing him to slip back to the 16th position. During the second caution on lap 38, Allgaier stayed out on the track and restarted 13th on lap 41. Allgaier worked his way to the 12th position by lap 56 and he reported his No. 31 BRANDT Chevy was free in and tight off during the run. When the third caution of the race came out at lap 62, Allgaier came down pit road for Sunoco fuel, four Goodyear tires and a track-bar adjustment. He restarted 13th on lap 69. After settling in for a long green-flag run, Allgaier was 15th when the fourth caution came out at lap 107. During the caution, Allgaier reported to Zipadelli that he was fighting a loose condition, so Zipadelli called him down pit road for two right-side tires, fuel and adjustments. After restarting in the seventh position, Allgaier maintained the spot until lap 124 when the No. 33 made contact with Allgaier’s No. 31 BRANDT Chevy, causing him to brush the wall and sending him back to the 12th position.
After settling in for the second long green-flag run of the race, Allgaier reported that his No. 31 BRANDT Chevy had really tightened up after brushing the wall. Zipadelli made the call for a scheduled green-flag pit stop on lap 162 for Allgaier to get two right-side tires, fuel and adjustments. Unfortunately, while the No. 31 BRANDT Chevy was on pit road the six caution of the race came out, putting Allgaier and everyone else who had pitted one lap down. Allgaier was able to take the wave around to gain his lap back and on lap 173, he restarted in the 16th position. After another quick caution on lap 175, Allgaier told the BRANDT racing team that his car was better than the cars around him and that he just need track position. After restarting 16th on lap 178, Allgaier quickly worked his way up to the 11th position on lap 178 before the eighth caution came out at lap 183. Zipadelli called for Allgaier to come down pit road for four tires, one can of Sunoco fuel and adjustments. Again Allgaier restarted 16th but after another quick caution, he was in the 12th position on lap 193. Unfortunately, Allgaier had a tire going down in the closing laps of the Kentucky 300, which led him to a 17th-place finish in the No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro for Turner Scott Motorsports.
“We had a good weekend going at Kentucky [Speedway],” said Allgaier. “The rain obviously wasn’t ideal, but we were able to get in a little bit of practice. It was nice to continue my streak of all top-10 starts at Kentucky. Unfortunately, we just didn’t have some of the luck we needed. We started in the rear, and worked our way up through the field. Then we made contact with a car and that sent us into the wall, which caused some damage. I was just trying to hang on to the BRANDT Camaro at the end of the race. After the race was over, my crew guys found out I had a tire going down which would explain why we fell back at the end. I’m looking forward to moving on to Dover.”
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