Rookie Brent Crews will have to wait another day for his first win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
He tried his best to defend against former series champion Justin Allgaier, but there was no stopping the JR Motorsports veteran. He took the lead with 15 laps to go and never looked back, earning his 32nd career win and his fourth of the 2026 season.
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After climbing out of the roof hatch, he bowed in honor of Kyle Busch.
“First of all, it’s been a rough couple of weeks,” said Allgaier. “Thoughts and prayers to Samantha, Kyle, Brexton and Lennix. It’s been an emotional couple of weeks. I wish my wife and kids and my mom and dad were here to celebrate. But this team right here is incredible … This place is electric. I love coming to Nashville. I knew we had a car capable of getting there, and we struggled on that one run, but Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) made some calls and we got ourselves back in the game. I was able to track him down and get the win.”
Crews finished second, William Sawalich third, Sam Mayer fourth, and Brandon Jones fifth. Corey Day, Carson Kvapil, Kyle Larson, Taylor Gray, and Sammy Smith filled out the remainder of the top ten.
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Stage 1 — Love in control
Love dominated the first run of the race from pole position. As the stage rolled on, he had a 6+ second lead as he caught RCR teammate Cleetus McFarland. Instead of lapping him, he rode behind the No. 33 in an effort to keep him on the lead lap.
However, after Cleetus slid up the traack, Love drove by and carried on with his race. Cleetus was then battling for the free pass when he spun sideways and ended up in the grass at the exit of Turn 4.
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Love won Stage 1 over Day, Allgaier, Hill, Larson, Kvapil, Sawalich, R. Sieg, S. Smith, and Crews.
Stage 2 — Allgaier takes the fight to Love
During the stage break, Tay. Gray suffered a flat left-front tire and ended up at the back of the field.
On the restart, Allgaier snatched the lead from Love, but the battle was far from over.
Behind them, Larson and Hill got together, and Hill delivered a little payback as he knocked Larson up the track.
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With just under 15 laps to go in the stage, Love took the lead back, but Allgaier responded, and they proceeded to go back-and-forth for the top spot.
On the final lap of the stage, Love drove to the inside of Allgaier, but shot up the track and nearly collided. That moment allowed Allgaier to win the stage over Love, Kvapil, Sawalich, Crews, Day, Mayer, Retzlaff. Larson, and R. Sieg .
Stage 3 — A new challenger goes to the front
Allgaier fell from first to fifth with a slow pit stop, but he made most of it back on the restart, surging to second before the field even exited Turn 2.
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Crews then rose to prominence, passing Allgaier for second and running down Love for the race lead. Love was on the radio complaining about a possible loose wheel, and the No. 2 team believed they may stripped the studs.
Crews took the lead, and Love was the first of the leaders to pit, as the team spent a long time in the stall to try and rectify the issue.
With about 45 laps to go, several cars began to pit as part a round of green-flag stops got underway.
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Cleetus McFarland’s first green-flag pit stop did not go well, with a penalty for removing equipment from the box. He then spun trying to serve the penalty, which got him another pass-through penalty.
But up front, Allgaier ran down Crews and the two drivers battled back-and-forth for almost five laps. Crews even put the bumper to him, but Allgaier finally got away with about 15 laps to go.
Allgaier went on to collect the checkered flag, his third in Music City. The O’Reilly Series will now have an off-weekend before they go back racing at Pocono Raceway on June 13.
Justin Allgaier and winning team bow in honor of Kyle Busch, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Allgaier and winning team bow in honor of Kyle Busch, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
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