AJ Allmendinger crosses the finish line to win the Xfinity race

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BRISTOL, Tenn. – AJ Allmendinger crossed the finish line after being touched by Austin Cindric to win Friday night’s Xfinity Series race in overtime and beat Cindric for the regular season title.

The contact culminated in two crazy turns.

MORE: Results, driver points

Allmendinger made contact with Cindric racing for the lead of Turn 4 as they came to the white flag. This slowed down both cars and allowed Justin Allgaier to cross the three-mark at the start of the last lap.

Allgaier and Cindric made contact on Turn 1 and moved up the track, allowing Allmendinger to shoot to the bottom. Allmendinger took the lead from Turn 2.

As he entered Turn 4, Allmendinger drifted high, allowing Cindric to charge on the bottom. Cindric’s car hit Allmendinger’s car and they both slipped across the finish line and hit the inside wall before bouncing off the field. Justin Haley crashed into Allmendinger’s car.

Fans booed Cindric during her interview on NBCSN which aired over the PA system.

Cindric told NBCSN “AJ is going straight through us” when Allmendinger took the lead.

Fans then cheered on Cindric in the same interview.

Allmendinger was furious with Cindric on team radio.

After leaving the infield care center, Allmendinger told NBCSN: “It was crazy in the end. We had about a fourth place car. My team did a great job there. .. I crept into Austin trying to speed up and stay down. And then in (Turn) 1 Allgaier had a stroke and there was contact. I expected to be hit. It’s frustrating to be hit so hard when you get to the checkerboard.

Allmendinger later said: “That’s what makes sport mean.”

Cindric finished second behind Allmendinger. Riley Herbst was third. Justin Allgaier placed fourth on a night when he received a penalty for speeding in the pits and made contact with his teammate Sam Mayer at the end of the race. Brandon Jones was fifth.

Jeremy Clements, Brandon Jones and Riley Herbst each grabbed the last three spots. They only risked retiring from the playoffs if someone outside of the top 12 wins the race.

Allgaier’s race nearly turned as he led on lap 153. Allgaier cut Joe Graf Jr.’s nose after passing Graf. The cars made contact and Allgaier slipped into Turn 1 before recovering the car. He only fell to third place. He returned to second place before the end of the second stage. Daniel Hemric won the stage.

Allgaier and his JR Motorsports teammate Noah Gragson were penalized for speeding on the pit lane during the pit stops after the second leg.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300
Justin Allgaier slipped into Turn 1 before recovering his car and continuing on Friday night in the Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

Allgaier was involved in an incident with Mayer in the closing laps of the race which set up the crazy overtime end. Mayer was second when they ran into two overtaken cars racing side by side. Mayer went high then went low. Allgaier and Mayer made contact and Mayer sped off.

“I was there,” Allgaier told his team over the radio. “I don’t know what I should have done differently.”

WINNER OF STEP 1: Justin allgaier

WINNER OF STEP 2: Daniel Hemric

WHO HAD A BAD RUN: Brett Moffitt, in his first race after missing the last two races, crashed on lap 10 and finished last in the 40-car field.

FOLLOWING: The Xfinity Playoffs begin September 25 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN).



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