Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Sequence race at Las Vegas was all the pieces an intense NASCAR playoff race ought to be.
After dominating for a lot of the night, AJ Allmendinger held off Ryan Sieg in a two-lap shootout to attain his first victory of the 2024 season.
Sieg caught — and almost handed Allmendinger — in the course of the race’s last inexperienced flag run, however a warning for a stalled Sammy Smith introduced out the yellow flag and re-racked the sector.
Regardless of a tough cost by Sieg, Allmendinger held on to win the race and punch his ticket to the Xfinity Sequence championship race on Nov. 9.
“I completely love these guys and women at Kaulig Racing,” Allmendinger instructed NBC Sports activities. “Been such and up and down, (season) however what I really like about them is that we maintain preventing.”
A jubilant Allmendinger made certain to shout out his household, but additionally gave a hearty good day to staff proprietor Matt Kaulig, who celebrated his birthday on Saturday.
“My household and pals see how a lot I put into this, how a lot I care. I put all of it on myself,” Allmendinger continued. “What a option to get to Phoenix after the 12 months we have had. Let’s go win a championship!”
Sieg tied his career-best end with a runner-up effort, with Justin Allgaier, Chandler Smith and Parker Kligerman rounding out the top-five. Jesse Love, Riley Herbst, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill accomplished the top-10.
Different notable finishers in Saturday’s race embrace Corey Heim in eleventh, Aric Almirola in thirteenth, Sam Mayer in 14th, Brandon Jones in seventeenth and Sammy Smith in thirty second.
The Xfinity Sequence’ Spherical of 8 will roll on subsequent Saturday on the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Three races stay within the 2024 season.
