NASCAR Race Mom: Allmendinger Storms to Victory

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Allmendinger Storms to Victory

A.J. Allmendinger Storms to Victory

Tennessee Lottery 250 #TNLottery250

A veteran of all forms of racing, A.J. Allmendinger is skilled enough to keep visiting Victory Lane, savvy enough to persist through all types of circumstances and experienced enough to soak in every winning moment.

Allmendinger survived several early multi-car wrecks, hung on through two overtime restarts and powered his way to a victory in the Tennessee Lottery 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway.

Driving the No. 10 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing, Allmendinger collected his second Xfinity Series victory on the season and the 17th of his career. Allmendinger is starting 19th in the sold-out Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race.

“I’m kind of old for this,” the 41-year-old NASCAR Cup Series regular joked. “Got to thank all the men and women at Kaulig Racing.”

The 41-year-old California native started 11th and made his way through a race that had seven caution flags fly through the first 70 laps, and eight multi-car wrecks. The 11 caution flags tied a Nashville Superspeedway Xfinity Series record.

Allmendinger held the lead for the last 20 laps, including the two overtime restarts where he held firm on the bottom of the track as the field spread out three- and even four-wide behind him.

“I just needed to get through Turn 1 clean,” Allmendinger said of the final restart. “I love winning on ovals because people doubt me on ovals.”

Riley Herbst was 1.323 seconds behind in second, with Sam Mayer placing third, Austin Hill finishing fourth and Josh Berry taking fifth.

“This is one of those iconic trophies you want to win,” said Allmendinger, who led 25 laps overall, before lifting the traditional Nashville Superspeedway Gibson guitar in Victory Lane. “You never know when you’ll be back here again.”

Ty Gibbs (28 laps led) took Stage 1 before bowing out in a wreck on the first laps of Stage 2. Chandler Smith (race-high 74 laps led) won Stage 2 before finishing 12th.

Allmendinger completed the overtime-aided 196 lap/260 mile event in 2 hours, 40 minutes, 21 seconds, averaging 97.542 mph with 16 cars finishing on the lead lap. Eleven leaders exchanged the lead 17 times.