8/25/2018
James Davison
NASCAR: Close but not close enough at Road America
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – After James Davison slipped up while leading the Johnsonville 180 with just seven laps to go, Justin Allgaier flew by and went on to win at Road America on Saturday.
The field took the green flag on the final restart of the afternoon on lap 38, and it was Davison who was got the advantage over race leader Allagier. As the field headed into Turn 1, Davison was out in front setting the pace; however, Allgaier drove by and retook the lead on the same lap after Davison entered a corner too deep and slipped out of the groove. Allgaier kept the JR Motorsports No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet in the lead for the final laps as he earned his fourth NASCAR XFINITY Series victory of the 2018 season.
In Victory Lane, Allgaier said, “The restart there, I spun the tires after I got hit, and I thought that I gave it away, and then he (Davison) made the mistake, I just knew that I had to be smooth and fast.”
Pole-sitter Maff Tifft piloted his Richard Childress Racing No. 2 Dragon Alliance Chevrolet to a second-place finish. Tifft led 12 laps throughout the afternoon, but in the closing laps, his chances for a top-five was in jeopardy. Tifft was battling Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell extremely hard with just five laps to go when the two drivers made contact. As Bell dove into the corner, Tifft got into the back of him and Bell spun around.
With just three laps to go, Justin Marks hit Davison, both spun while battling for second, and that’s when Tifft was able to drive by for the runner-up finish.
Daniel Hemric, Cole Custer and Elliott Sadler rounded out the top-five. Davison recovered from the contact with Marks to finish 8th.
"I gave it my best shot this weekend" Davison said. "It's not easy to come in once a year with an hour practice, 2 qualifying laps then go race. I'm pleased with what Joe Gibbs Racing and I did today, fighting up front all day and leading the race in the closing stages. We just didn't quite have what we needed to keep the lead in the end and I over cooked it trying to hold on. We were good for P2, P3, ended 8th after contact and thats the way it goes sometimes, especially in NASCAR Road Course racing. I love it and look forward to the next one."
Submitted By: James Davison
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