TALLADEGA, Ala. — Saturday afternoon’s AG-PRO 300 at Talladega Superspeedway is the third of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ four Dash 4 Cash races with the highest finisher among the four qualified drivers claiming a $100,000 bonus check.
Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed (No. 00 Chevrolet), Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love (No. 2 Chevrolet), JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier (No. 7 Chevrolet) and last week’s Kansas winner Taylor Gray (No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) will compete for the big money this weekend.
It is Allgaier’s record 26th time being eligible for the Dash 4 Cash bonus and conversely, Gray’s first. The 2024 series champ Allgaier leads all drivers having captured the award eight times in his career.
It’s been a stellar start for the veteran, whose three victories and eight top-five showings through the opening 10 races are tops in the field. He’s on a streak of seven straight top-five finishes and is the only driver in the series to earn stage points in every single race stage this season.
And for the effort. … Allgaier holds a staggering 131-point lead over Creed atop the championship standings. He’s nearly 200 points up on fifth place – 196 points ahead of JGR’s Brandon Jones.
Love, who sits third in the championship, 149 off Allgaier’s blistering pace, holds the mark for most laps led this season (224) and has proven himself especially good on the big tracks, such as Talladega, where in 2024 he scored his first series victory.
He’s started from the front row in all four of his Talladega starts – winning pole position the last three races – and he’s 4-for-4 in top-10 finishes at the sport’s biggest track leading an impressive 125 laps in that span.
Both Allgaier and Love know they will have to beat Love’s RCR teammate, Austin Hill for a trophy shot. Hill has won the last two NOAPS races at ‘Dega holding off another two-time Talladega winner Jeb Burton in last spring’s race.
“Anything can happen at Talladega,” said Allgaier, whose best Talladega finish is runner-up (2016). “It’s such an unpredictable style of racing. Thankfully, JR Motorsports has always brought great cars to the superspeedways and I know that we will have another one on Saturday.
“Hopefully we can keep our nose clean all race long, work well with our teammates, and be in position to fight for both the win and the Dash 4 Cash bonus.”
