Justin Allgaier scores his first win of the season at the Monster Mile

The NASCAR Xfinity Series season continued Saturday with a doubleheader weekend at Dover International Speedway for the Drydene 200 Race One. Austin Cindric won the pole by a metric qualifying system, and next to him was Noah Gragson to make up the front row. The “Choose Cone Rule” was back in play this weekend. The only driver that was starting in the rear of the field was Colby Howard for unapproved adjustments.

It's on at the @MonsterMile! Catch the action now on NBCSN or stream today's race at https://t.co/593lUVrknA! pic.twitter.com/4rrJSvSCRH — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 22, 2020

On the opening lap, Austin Cindric jumped out in front of Noah Gragson to take the lead. The first twenty laps were clean before the competition caution came out ON lap 20. Stefan Parsons got the free pass. During the caution, Anthony Alfredo, Brandon Brown, and four others pitted. The race resumed on lap 26 with Cindric in the lead. During the green flag run, Ryan Sieg managed to save his car from spinning to keep the tenth position. Meanwhile, Cindric was in control since the restart and would win stage one.

"Man, this 10 car looks good!" – @DaleJr @RossChastain has driven from 13th to 4th in the opening stage at the @MonsterMile. pic.twitter.com/ddGvq6mEc8 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 22, 2020

During the caution, Austin Cindric led the field down to pit road with Noah Gragson winning the race off of pit road with Cindric coming out second. Noah Gragson would choose the outside lane, and Austin Cindric went to the inside lane as the race resumed on lap 52 to start stage two. Gragson led 27 laps until Justin Allgaier passed him on lap 76 to take the lead. A lap later, Chase Briscoe got loose and spun at turn two to bring out the second caution of the day.

THE 9️⃣8️⃣ SPINS! @ChaseBriscoe5 loses control coming off of the corner midway through Stage 2. pic.twitter.com/Xj80ezQZDK — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 22, 2020

During the caution, Ryan Sieg and Brandon Brown were the only drivers to pit as everyone else stayed out. Allgaier would choose the outside lane as he led the field back to green on lap 82. Allgaier would win stage two with Austin Cindric right behind him. During the caution, Ryan Sieg and Brandon Brown stayed out while everyone else pitted. Allgaier would win the race off of pit road. Brandon Brown chose the outside lane to lead the field back to green on lap 97 to start the final stage.

Business is 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 picking up! The final stage from the @MonsterMile is green on NBCSN and at https://t.co/593lUVrknA! pic.twitter.com/xX8AVBC3Zz — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 22, 2020

Brown’s lead was short-lived as Justin Allgaier, who restarted fourth, took the lead. On lap 101, Brown would lose the second position to Austin Cindric. On lap 149, the fifth caution would come out for BJ McLeod as his car hit the turn four wall, saving Brandon Brown from going a lap down. During the caution, Justin Allgaier would lead the field down to pit road and win the race off of pit road with Ross Chastain coming out second, and Austin Cindric third. Justin Allgaier and Ross Chastain would choose the outside lane while Austin Cindric chose the inside lane to improve his position, going from third to second as the race resumed on lap 161.

Allgaier and Cindric were having an epic battle for the lead before Allgaier would take hold of the lead with Chastain closing in. Two laps later, Brandon Jones got loose and spun at turn three to bring out the sixth caution of the day. Chase Briscoe would get the free pass. During the caution, no one came to pit road as Allgaier led the field back to green with 33 laps to go.

Here we go, folks! @AustinCindric is doing all he can to get past @J_Allgaier for the lead with less than 45 to go! pic.twitter.com/KBnK9uNUca — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 22, 2020

Allgaier would pull away from Austin Cindric and was up by 1.5-seconds. Justin Allgaier would score his first win of the season in Race One of the Drydene 200 by 1.977 seconds over the second-place finisher Austin Cindric. Allgaier led three-times leading a total of 127 laps. With the win, Allgaier has punched his ticket to the Xfinity Series playoffs.

Miles the Monster is conquered! Retweet to congratulate @J_Allgaier on winning the first race of the #DrydeneDouble! pic.twitter.com/S430GeeVVB — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 22, 2020

The rest of the top ten finishers were Ross Chastain third, Noah Gragson fourth, Harrison Burton fifth, Riley Herbst sixth, Jeb Burton seventh, Justin Haley eighth, Michael Annett ninth, and Chase Briscoe tenth. There were six lead changes and six cautions for 27 laps.

Updated playoff standings with six races remaining in the regular season are: Austin Cindric first (5 wins), Chase Briscoe second (5 wins), Noah Gragson third (2 wins), Justin Allgaier fourth (1 win), Brandon Jones fifth (2 wins), Harrison Burton sixth (2 wins), and Justin Haley seventh (1 win) are locked in the playoffs. In the playoffs for now are Ross Chastain eighth, Michael Annett ninth, Riley Herbst tenth, Ryan Sieg eleventh, and Brandon Brown twelfth. Outside looking in are Jeremy Clements thirteenth, Myatt Snider fourteenth, Alex Labbe fifteenth, and Josh Williams sixteenth. The NASCAR Xfinity Series will conclude the doubleheader weekend at the Monster Mile tomorrow at 1 pm on NBCSN.

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