Concrete King Justin Allgaier passes Brent Crews to Win Third O’Reilly Series Race at Nashville

RPW EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY: Steven Brien / RPW – LEBANON, TN  – Justin Allgaier passed rookie Brent Crews with 16 laps remaining and pulled away to win the NASCAR O’Reilly Series Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 Saturday night at Nashville Superspeedway.

“It’s been an emotional couple of weeks,” Allgaier said after climbing from his No. 7 Chevrolet. “Sending prayers to Samantha, Kyle [Busch], Brexton, and Lennix.”

Allgaier led 50 laps and overcame a dominant performance by Jesse Love to earn his fourth victory of the season and the 32nd win of his career. 

“This place is electric,” he said. “I love coming to Nashville.”

Crews, who started 33rd, delivered one of the strongest performances of his young career. The rookie charged through the field, led 45 laps and appeared poised for the victory before Allgaier tracked him down in the closing laps. 

“I thought we were going to win that race,” Crews said on pit road. “I got to race one of the best guys in our series of all time for the win there in the last few laps. Couldn’t ask for much more other than to beat him.”

William Sawalich finished third, Sam Mayer fourth, and Brandon Jones completed the top five after rallying from the rear of the field. Corey Day was sixth, followed by Carson Kvapil, Kyle Larson, Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith.

Love dominated much of the evening, leading a race-high 87 laps from the pole and winning Stage 1. However, an issue with loose lug-nut studs on the rear tires forced an unscheduled pit stop during the final green-flag cycle and dropped him out of contention. He finished 16th. 

“It’s definitely really frustrating,” Love said on pit road. “We’re going to figure out what’s making these wheels come loose, because my pit crew is getting them all tight.”

Love led every lap of the opening stage to earn his third stage victory of the season. Day finished second in the 45 lap segment, followed by Allgaier, Austin Hill and Larson. Kvapil was sixth, followed by Sawalich, Ryan Sieg, Smith, and Crews rounded out the top ten.

The caution flag flew immediately as the stage ended when YouTube star Cleetus McFarland spun while battling Logan Bearden for the free-pass position entering Turn 4. McFarland later spun again while entering pit road under green in the final stage and finished 35th, six laps down. 

The race intensified during Stage 2 as Allgaier and Love traded the lead repeatedly in a spirited battle. Allgaier ultimately held off Love to win the stage, his series-leading sixth stage victory of the season.

Love finished second in the segment, followed by Kvapil, Sawalich and Crews. Day was sixth, Mayer seventh, Parker Retzlaff eighth, Larson ninth and Sieg 10th.

The final run set up a showdown between Crews and Allgaier. After Crews used track position to take control of the race, Allgaier steadily closed the gap before making the decisive pass with 16 laps remaining. From there, the veteran pulled away to secure another victory at one of his strongest tracks.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race – Sports Illustrated Resorts 250

Nashville Superspeedway

Lebanon, TN

Saturday May 30, 2026

1. (17) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 188.
2. (33) Brent Crews (R), Toyota, 188.
3. (5) William Sawalich, Toyota, 188.
4. (34) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 188.
5. (29) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 188.
6. (3) Corey Day, Chevrolet, 188.
7. (4) Carson Kvapil, Chevrolet, 188.
8. (6) Kyle Larson (i), Chevrolet, 188.
9. (27) Taylor Gray, Toyota, 188.
10.  (8) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 188.
11.  (2) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 188.
12.  (9) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 188.
13.  (7) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 188.
14.  (13) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 188.
15.  (24) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 188.
16.  (1) Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 188.
17.  (12) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 188.
18.  (31) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 187.
19.  (25) Rajah Caruth (R), Chevrolet, 187.
20.  (21) Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 187.
21.  (23) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 187.
22.  (15) Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 187.
23.  (19) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 187.
24.  (20) Kyle Sieg, Chevrolet, 187.
25.  (16) Patrick Staropoli, Chevrolet, 187.
26.  (32) Logan Bearden, Chevrolet, 186.
27.  (35) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 186.
28.  (11) Mason Maggio, Chevrolet, 186.
29.  (26) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 185.
30.  (14) Austin Green, Chevrolet, 185.
31.  (18) Lavar Scott (R), Chevrolet, 184.
32.  (28) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 184.
33.  (10) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 184.
34.  (36) Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 183.
35.  (38) Cleetus McFarland, Chevrolet, 182.
36.  (30) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 179.
37.  (22) David Starr, Chevrolet, Suspension, 151.
38.  (37) J.J. Yeley, Ford, Rear End, 59.