Last Lap Pass Puts Allgaier in Victory Lane
The 2008 ARCA Re/Max title will be decided in next weekend’s season-ender at Toledo Speedway after leader Scott Speed and second-ranked Ricky Stenhouse finished poorly in Friday’s 250-miler at Talladega (Ala.) Speedway.
Allgaier, with no drafting help, drove to the outside of Joey Logano down the backstretch on the last lap, bounced off the former leader and sailed away to earn the biggest victory of his career.
Speed and Stenhouse started the 94-lapper 1-2 in points, with Speed leading by 65. Stenhouse appeared to have lost any shot when he crashed at lap 58 and went behind the wall for sheetmetal repairs. Speed, who ran near the front all afternoon, was poised to settle the issue until he crashed at lap 68 and suffered front suspension damage.
Both drivers returned for the final laps, with Speed finishing 23rd and Stenhouse 28th. Their misfortune kept the door open for Allgaier, Frank Kimmel and Matt Carter as championship contenders.
Tom Hessert III led the first 51 laps from the pole before John Jackson led laps 52-76. Logano inherited the point when Jackson crashed at lap 76, taking Hessert III, Bill Baird and Tim George with him. Logano led 77-90, Sheltra led 91-92, Logano regained the lead for 93, then Allgaier (recently signed as a developmental driver for Penske) led the final lap for his second consecutive victory and fifth of the season.
“Penske gave me an engine for this race; this is the first time I’ve ever been in a Dodge,” said Allgaier, who just signed with Penske Racing to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “We fought hard today. Brian Scott blew a tire and when that happened something went through the radiator.
I was a little nervous because at some point we didn’t have any water pressure. My crew chief Jim Pohlman talked me through it. You come to a place like Talladega and the chances of winning are kind of up to what everyone else does so we put it in God’s hands.”
Chrissy Wallace, in her second career series start, finished ninth in the Germain Racing Toyota.
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