Allgaier Holds Off Crews for Hard-Fought NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Win at Nashville Superspeedway

Photo / NASCAR / Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images

EBANON, TN - Justin Allgaier withstood a late-race charge from 18-year-old rookie Brent Crews to win Saturday night’s Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 at Nashville Superspeedway, earning his series-best fourth victory of the season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Allgaier, driving the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, took the checkered flag by 1.4 seconds over Crews after a closing stretch filled with door-to-door racing between veteran and newcomer. The 2024 series champion reached the front for good with 20 laps remaining, edging past Crews’ No. 19 Joe Gibbs Motorsports Toyota in hard, clean side-by-side battles and holding on to claim his third career win at Nashville and the 32nd triumph of his championship career.

The outcome was built on precision and patience as the race tightened in the final 10-20 laps. Crews, who started 33rd, methodically worked his way through the field to lead twice for a total of 45 laps—the most he has ever paced in a single race—before settling for runner-up honors. After the finish, Crews said the emotions of nearly winning lingered, calling the contest “the most fun I’ve had without winning.”

Allgaier celebrated in the trademark fashion of NASCAR’s winning icons, climbing out of the roof hatch of his Chevy and bowing to the Nashville crowd. His celebration came with extra meaning as he paid tribute to the late Kyle Busch, who died last Thursday after being ill with pneumonia and sepsis.

“It’s been a rough couple of weeks,” Allgaier said, extending prayers to Busch’s family. “To win in Nashville… this place is electric.”

William Sawalich finished third for Toyota, claiming his third consecutive top-five result. Sam Mayer placed fourth, continuing a Nashville streak of top 10s, while Brandon Jones rounded out the top five. Corey Day, Carson Kvapil, Kyle Larson, Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith completed the top 10.

Jesse Love, the reigning series champion and NASCAR Cup titleholder, finished 16th after leading a race-high 87 laps. A pit stop miscue cost him a lap at one point, but he rallied before the checkered flag. YouTube personality Cleetus McFarland also made an impression in his second series start, finishing 36th after late-race miscues and penalties.