NOAPS Race Recap: National Debt Relief 250

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series went to Martinsville Speedway for its penultimate race in the National Debt Relief 250. Carson Kvapil was quickest in qualifying, earning the pole. Rajah Caruth joined him on the front row. Parker Retzlaff and Justin Allgaier started on the second row. Championship leader Jesse Love began the race from the fourth row. The lap lengths were 60 laps for stages one and two, with the final stage being 130 laps.

Caution(s)

Kvapil got a huge launch at the start to take the lead into turn one. Allgaier was able to get by Caruth, who settled in third.

Austin Hill started to sink down the leaderboard. He made an unscheduled pit stop to remedy an issue. The right front tire began to shred inside the wheel well.

Kvapil and Allgaier pulled away by over a second in front of Caruth.

The first caution came out for Patrick Emerling and Patrick Staropoli, who stopped on the outside of three.

Allgaier joined Kvapil on the front row for the restart with 24 to go. Kvapil retook his lead. Immediately, the second caution came out for a pileup in turn one. Sammy Smith turned Lavar Scott into Corey Day. The field had nowhere to go, so several cars drove into the pile-up. Brent Crews and Ryan Ellis were also involved.

With 16 to go in the stage, Allgaier and Kvapil restarted on the front row. Kvapil got a good launch and took the lead out of turn two.

The third caution came out with 12 to go for debris on the backstretch.

Allgaier and Kvapil took the green flag with seven to go. Allgaier was able to stay to the outside and pass for the lead into turn three. Creed snuck inside of Kvapil to challenge for the runner-up spot. Brandon Jones was next to push Kvapil up the track and take third.

The stage concluded with four to go because of the fourth caution on the day. Allgaier got the stage one win in the National Debt Relief 250! Creed, Jones, Kvapil and Love finished in the top five

Almost a Clean Stage

William Sawalich and Sam Mayer began stage two on the front row. Mayer took the lead on the back stretch.

Love, Allgaier, and Kvapil restarted deep in the field and were able to gain positions early. They each improved by more than four spots quickly. Allgaier got to the inside of Love and was able to get by for 11th. Kvapil was also able to challenge Love for the position.

Allgaier continued to cut through the leaderboard, leaving Love and Kvapil. He got to seventh with 30 to go in the stage.

Love was held up by Daniel Dye and Blaine Perkins. He was finally able to get by Dye but had another hurdle for 11th.

The fifth caution came out when Dye was spun by Jeb Burton. Dye collected Harrison Burton in the incident. Jesse Love fell to 20th in the pits. He got trapped in his stall because of Dye in the stall in front of him.

With 17 to go, the race resumed. Corey Day and Anthony Alfredo restarted on the front row. Day took the lead into turn one.

Allgaier restarted in eighth. He was forced three-wide in turns one and two, and fell to ninth.

Alfredo got alongside Day and took the lead. Day challenged back and even got into the rear of Alfredo. Alfredo did not give up. Alfredo took the lead back with ten to go.

Allgaier and Brent Crews caught and passed Day for second and third.

Allgaier powered his way by Crews for second. He closed the gap to the leader but could not challenge for the stage win.

Alfredo kept his cool to win stage 2 in the National Debt Relief 250! Allgaier, Crews, Day, and Sammy Smith finished in the top five.

Short Track Racin’

Allgaier and Smith began stage three on the front row. Allgaier launched out in front out of turn two. Crews got around Smith for second.

The seventh caution came out when Garrett Smithley wrecked in turn four.

With 111 laps left, Smith and Allgaier restarted the race out front. Mayer dove to the inside line and got around Gray.

Allgaier reassumed control of the race with Crews in second.

The eighth caution came out when Patrick Emerling spun around in turn two.

Allgaier and Smith, again, restarted on the front row. They raced side by side for a lap and a half before Allgaier was able to pull ahead. Crews slipped to the inside of Smith for second.

The ninth caution came with 88 to go in the race. Smithley got into the outside wall and hit Mason Maggio. Emerling was also involved.

NASCAR red-flagged the race to allow for cleanup of debris.

79 to go

Day and Burton restarted on the front row. Burton slipped back immediately. Kvapil passed his way to third behind Ryan Sieg and Day. Kvapil drove deep into turn one to get around Sieg for second.

The tenth caution came out when Dye stopped on the track. He had a destroyed front end and flat tires. Creed overdrove the corner and hit Retzlaff, who hit Dye.

Day and Kvapil restarted out front with 68 laps remaining. They got an equal launch and raced side by side. Kvapil nosed ahead out of four and retook the lead.

The 11th caution came out when Jeremy Clements backed into the outside wall. Caruth got into the rear of Staropoli, who turned Clements around.

Day joined Kvapil on the front row for the restart with 53 to go. Kvapil took his place out front. Mayer took third from Sieg.

Allgaier drove his way back to the top five after passing Burton. He then tracked down Sieg and made the pass for fourth. Next on the order was Mayer, whom Allgaier made quick work of. He filled up the rear-view mirror of Day. Allgaier used the inside line to make the pass and set his sights on the leader, who was three seconds up the road.

The twelfth caution of the day came out when Jesse Love lost his brakes and backed into the outside wall. He was running 16th at the time.

The Run to the End

Teammates Allgaier and Kvapil brought the green flag back out with 22 to go. Kvapil was able to pull away in the lead.

Dean Thomson spun around in turn one, but no caution was thrown. He had a tire rub from the damage.

Kvapil was quicker out of the turns and pulled away by half a second. He looked smoother than Allgaier. The top two gapped Day, in third, by two seconds. They caught the rear of the field and began to battle lapped traffic

It did not hinder Kvapil, who took the white and then the checkered flag to win the National Debt Relief 250! Allgaier, Day, Jones, and Mayer rounded out the top five.

Marvin’s Minute:

Four drivers are separated by under 30 points heading into the final race of the season. Justin Allgaier, Corey Day, Jesse Love, and Carson Kvapil have a chance to win it. Allgaier can probably have an average day and win it, but he will need one of the other three to NOT win the race. One of the other three will probably need to win to secure it. Now the race is on. Who will take it? Tune in next week for the season finale in Homestead!

I do not believe Allgaier will lose it. His veteran experience will give him the path to the championship. If Day can rip the fence and find speed, and with a little luck, he would be my other pick.