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| Photo Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images |
While the elite NASCAR Cup Series raced for their first time on the road course of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Xfinity Series car already had experience battling on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit with Chase Brisoce winning the inaugural event. With Briscoe focused on his hunt for NASCAR Cup Series rookie of the year honours in 2021, a different driver would be the Saturday’s Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard would fight for claim the win.
The #16 Chevrolet of A.J. Allmendinger started on the pole for the 62-lap race but his third place starting Kaulig Racing teammate Justin Haley’s #11 car leaped into the lead into the first corner as Allmendinger ran wide. Action on the road course quickly turned chaotic as the 36-car field exited turn six of the opening lap. Several drivers including Harrison Burton, Brandon Jones, Kevin Harvick, Alex Labbe and Josh Bilicki hopped a curb that was placed on the exit of the sixth corner resulting in considerable damage to their cars. Jones retired his #19 Toyota on the opening lap while Harvick completed just one lap in the #99 Unibet Official Sportsbook Ford Mustang.
When racing resumed, Haley continued to lead through the first stage. A.J. Allmendinger took that second stage of the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard that ended under caution due to the #24 Toyota of Will Rodgers’ stopping on track as a fire started beneath his vehicle.
On the third stage, Penske Racing’s Austin Cindric pulled off a race-winning move passing Ty Gibbs on lap 45. The #22 PPG Ford Mustang maintained a healthy gap on second place that changed hands between Gibbs, Myatt Snider and finally A.J. Allmendinger as Cindric led the field to the checkered flag. Through the cool-down lap, the victorious driver sang the Indianapolis 500 pre-race staple “Back Home Again in Indiana” celebrating on his car owner Roger Penske’s track.
A.J. Allmendinger and Justin Haley finished second and third place for Kaulig Racing ahead of JR Motorsports #1 Chevrolet driven by Chase Elliott. Elliott did not intend to race in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at the start of the race weekend. He received an early morning phone call to substitute for the #1 car’s regular driver Michael Annett who was suffering from lingering pain while recovering from a leg injury. Noah Gragson, Austin Dillon, Myatt Snider, Riley Herbt, Harrison Burton and Andy Lally rounded out the top-10 with the completion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Finishing the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard outside of the top 10 in 11th place, Justin Allgaier had his race spoiled by misfortunate timing. When the caution came out for Rodger’s stopped #24 machine ending the second stage, Allgaier proceeded to take his #7 BRANDT Chevrolet to the attention of his pit crew. Just before Allgaier reached the pit road commitment line, the full-course yellow closed the pits resulting in the #7 car being sent to the rear of the field on the third stage. Also having a tough final stage was Watkins Glen Xfinity race winner Ty Gibbs who fell from the lead to ultimately finish 19th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road race.
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