Justin Allgaier claims third win of the season at Martinsville Speedway

Justin Allgaier concluded the day as he began it—leading the field—though his path to victory in Saturday's NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts NFPA 250 at the historic Martinsville Speedway was both dramatic and challenging.

En route to his victory, the 2024 series champion started from pole position and led the most laps, covering 114 of the 250. Driving the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Allgaier secured his second consecutive win, marking his third of the season and the 31st of his career.

Allgaier dominated the initial 65 laps, claimed victory in Stage 1, and led the final 26 laps, encapsulating a typically thrilling race at the renowned paperclip track.

"I keep emphasizing how exceptional this team is, and we have started 2026 better than I could have imagined," stated Allgaier, whose victory represents the fifth consecutive win for JR Motorsports this season—just one short of the record set by Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008.

"The emotion is truly incredible," added the 39-year-old, who has extended his lead in the standings to 92 points over reigning series champion Jesse Love of Richard Childress Racing. "As I mentioned last week, as you advance in your career, you never know if you'll win again, and this year has been quite special."

The victory was hard-fought, given that the race was interrupted 13 times due to incidents on the notoriously challenging short track.

Most notably, a 19-car collision during a late-race restart led to a 26-minute red flag, significantly reducing the field of true contenders. Late model standout Lee Pulliam, making his debut in a NASCAR national series with the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, caused the caution after missing a shift on the restart from his front-row starting position.

His team co-owner, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., offered reassurance and encouragement to Pulliam over the radio during the race stoppage, saying, "I know you didn’t want that to happen, and you’ll handle it like a pro; we all make mistakes." Post-race, he added, "Overall, it was incredible to come in, run a race, lead laps, and get a great result in a tough place. He survived. He’s an exceptional driver."

After the race, Pulliam, who led 40 laps—second only to Allgaier—immediately addressed the late-race restart situation. "First and foremost, I’d like to apologize to everyone affected. I just couldn’t get going with the older tires, and it was a bit of inexperience."

"I’m so grateful to be here and do this. It’s a dream come true to drive for Dale Earnhardt Jr.," added the respected 37-year-old North Carolina native, who sold out of t-shirts commemorating his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut this weekend.

"The entire experience has been very special for me, something I’ve aspired to do my whole life. I’m thankful to everyone who contributed to this moment, and I hope I made all the fans proud by leading those laps."

"It was incredibly cool driving away. I just wish I could have executed the restarts better, and if given another opportunity, I’ll learn from my mistakes and return stronger."

Corey Day’s second-place finish in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 17 Chevrolet marked a career-best for the 20-year-old, signifying an impressive sixth consecutive top-10 finish. Sammy Smith secured third place, achieving his seventh top-10 finish in eight races at Martinsville Speedway. Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed finished fourth in the No. 00 Chevrolet, with Pulliam completing the top five.