Allgaier Wins Inaugural Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250
Justin Allgaier, in his father Mike Allgaier’s #16 Zoller & Bergfield Farming-AG Tech Chevrolet, recovered from a mid-race spin, raced his way back into the lead, survived two late-race restarts, and then drove away from Frank Kimmel and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. to win the inaugural Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 Sunday afternoon at Cayuga Motor Speedway.
“This racetrack was really cool and it means a lot to me to win here,” said Allgaier in victory lane. “We got turned around and everything and tried to come back from that. We had to check up a little bit there and he (Stenhouse) got into us; no hard feelings there.”
Allgaier was leading Stenhouse midway through the race when Stenhouse gave Allgaier a nudge that sent the eventual winner spinning off turn four. Allgaier made two consecutive pit stops for new tires and adjustments before returning to rejoin the field at the tail-end.
From there, Allgaier raced his way forward and caught Stenhouse inside of 50 laps from the finish to contend for the win. Allgaier found the opening he was looking for down the backstretch and muscled inside of Stenhouse for the lead in turn three on lap 215 of the 257-lap event.
Allgaier completed the pass off turn four, and was never seriously challenged from there.
“This track is tight and unfortunately this car doesn’t look as good as it should but we’re happy to have four wheels on it,” added Allgaier. “There are quite a few donuts along both sides of the Zoller & Bergfield Farming-AG Tech Chevrolet. Its tight racing and it’s a lot of fun.”
Allgaier, with 13 lead-lap machines lined up directly behind, also held off the pack during two green-white-checker finishes in order for the race to finish under green, as mandated by ARCA officials. As a result, the race went seven laps beyond the scheduled 250-laps to accommodate the finish.
Kimmel, in his own Ford Drive One-Engineered Components Ford, also got by Stenhouse and finished second, 10 lengths behind Allgaier.
“It was a pretty good day,” said Kimmel. “This is a tough little racetrack. You couldn’t be cautious at all; you had to race hard all day. We weren’t the best car overall but we were consistent all day and we kept it up front.”
Stenhouse, who led the most laps (101), earned the Aaron’s Lap Leader Award and finished third in the Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Stenhouse was also the Klotz Halfway Leader and the SunTrust Highest Finishing Rookie.
AS A SIDE NOTE: On Pit Row’s Steve Wronkowicz did the radio play-by-play from Cayuga. I’m not sure if it was his debut as a race announcer - being a radio/web broadcast I couldn’t tell if he was wearing a Debutante’s Gown - but he turned in an excellent job none-the-less.
ALSO: I have a special super-duper secret interview coming this week with one of the ARCA RE/MAX Series drivers. So stay tuned to this same Bat Channel at your Bat Time of Convenience.
Technorati Tags: Justin Allgaier, Roush Fenway Racing, Frank Kimmel, Ricky Stenhouse, Sports, ARCA
How coincidental is that? They were just talking about this kid on the TNT Sunday pre-race show. How’s that for timing?
How’s their timing?
I’d say, about six weeks late. If they had been bragging about the kid in say, early April and before his win at Salem I’d say yes… good timing.
Thanks for the kind words. I had lots of help doing this first ever ARCA Radio Network webcast. Of course Charlie doing the pit reporting was great and having ARCA’s PR Directer Don Radebaugh in the booth call the race with me was a great help. Kudos also go to Steven Volp from ArcaNation for putting the entire production together and directing the broadcast.
But Steve, you didn’t clear up the most important question.
Were you, or were you not wearing a Debutantes Grown during your debut as a race announcer?
I do not wear dresses of any kind in public.
Wow … this conversation took on a bit of a different direction.
In public… right. Gotcha.
Now I know why Charlie selected your most unfavored moniker.
I agree with you on the timing Marc. Justin Allgaier has been a factor in ARCA races all year. There are a dozen - or more young guys and maybe some gals - who will be breaking into various NASCAR divisions out of the ARCA ranks. Justin’s just one.
That race was about the most fun I’ve ever had at a sporting event - and that is saying a lot coming from me. As for Steve-O, I can confirm that he was the vision of professionalism at the track. That said, we roomed together Saturday night. His sleep-wear is scary.
Hopefully the race call was close to doing the race justice. The race in Cayuga was one of the top five stock car races I’ve ever seen, let alone had the opportunity to call. Not only did Allgaier and his crew thrash on that #16 all race long; but there was entertaining stuff going on all around the race track. Scott Speed coming from 5 laps down, but just ran out of time to contend for the lead. Frank Kimmell finishing second after almost getting head-butted by Ken Butler III, who was heading the wrong way down pit lane.
There is talent here and there is good equipment. The two add up to entertaining racing.
Charlie me thinks that’s a bit more info on Steve that any of us needs.
Steve & Charlie.. that Catuga produced a good event isn’t surprising to me.
Back in the day, like the late 60’s and 70’s, when the Ruttmans’, Allisons, Martins, and the Parson’s and the Wallace’s were running there in the old ASA series that place was packed and the racing was the best in Canada and the upper mid-west. (well, except for Toledo and Flat Rock)