Dale Jr’s Infuriated Veteran Fires Shots at NASCAR’s “Comedy of Errors” After Botched Rain Delay Muck-Up

Published 04/28/2024, 9:58 PM EDT

At a certain point, Dale Earnhardt Jr surely thought that at least someone from his team would bag the Xfinity race at the World’s Fastest One-Mile Oval, Dover International Speedway. JR Motorsports stars Cole Custer and Justin Allgaier led the pack when NASCAR issued a caution for rain on lap 159, gambling on a rainout to end the race. However, the anticipated downpour didn’t materialize, even after a brief pause at lap 167.

As expected, this hampered their momentum. The race resumed with the pits remaining shut since teams had a chance to pit before the stoppage. Consequently, Custer pitted for fuel and incurred a penalty, while Allgaier stayed out, albeit reluctantly, for the restart. Despite pitting out of sequence, Allgaier nearly recovered, advancing to sixth for the final restart. Unfortunately, a last-lap crash relegated him to a P17 finish.

Justin Allgaier expressed his dissatisfaction with NASCAR

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Justin Allgaier opened up to Fronstretch after the race and expressed his frustration regarding a few things at the racetrack. He blames NASCAR for all their fault today and also expressed his discontent with Carson Kvapil‘s not winning the race.

Allgaier said, “Last lap, right where was going down from the damage from that last restart. I mean with the way that the day went it’s hard to pit right there not knowing. We thought we got a clearance enough on that last caution and then just went down. So I hated that the 88 didn’t win the race. I mean that’s probably the most frustrating part. Kid did a great job all day and doesn’t get to go to Victory Lane today. But, I don’t even know where to start with today, it was just a comedy of errors on all sides.”

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The final laps saw rookie Carson Kvapil and race winner Ryan Truex engage in a fierce battle. Kvapil, driving posed a significant challenge, but Truex’s experience and tactical acumen came to the forefront. But then, a multi-car incident brought the race to a close under caution. Keeping everything aside, Kvapil’s runner-up finish is commendable, showcasing his potential and racing abilities.

“It’s ultra frustrating you know. They ask us to do everything we can you know they they ruined a fantastic race today in the upsters. And it’s sad you know, it is what it is whether I win the race or not it doesn’t really matter. It’s just, it’s when you when you make hairs like that it’s uncalled for. And I’ve already asked to go talk to them. Hopefully they’ll give me some resolution on it cuz I don’t understand,” he added.

This is not the end of the frustration list, though; there’s something else.

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NASCAR mishandling the rain caution at the Monster Mile

NASCAR made a major mistake in predicting the forecast weather. Justin Allgaier further expressed his frustration by stating that the caution was called without any rain. And eventually, when the rain did begin, the decision was made to resume. He was perplexed by the instructions given for the restart, as he had chosen the outside lane but was then told to move to the bottom despite being above the chosen cone. The last time rain messed up at Dover, Kurt Busch had a penalty that included a 100-point deduction.

This was in 2007 when Tony Stewart spun Kurt Busch in a rain-delayed race, and the then-Penske driver responded by pulling right up alongside Stewart on pit road to voice his displeasure. Stewart even called him one of the sport’s “bad apples.”

However, this weekend’s Dover race was the last 42 laps when rain started pouring, prompting NASCAR to issue a caution and then a red flag. The teams pulled their cars into the pit lane and placed covers on them. Once the race resumed, Cole Custer pitted, relinquishing the lead to Justin Allgaier. The race turned green again with 28 laps left. Allgaier and Austin Hill jostled for position into the first turn. Allgaier forced Hill wide in the second turn and secured the lead. Hill, however, didn’t relent and pressed against Allgaier’s bumper in the third turn, pushing him up the track and taking over the lead.

With 26 laps remaining, A.J. Allmendinger hit the wall on the second turn, colliding with Brandon Jones, who spun out. This incident brought out another caution, and Allgaier took this opportunity to head for the pit lane. Frustrated, as he should rightly be, Justin Allgaier aims to make use of the gap before the Darlington race. It is hoped that these challenges will not cause hardship for anyone involved over there.

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Written by:

Mamata Mukherjee is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Combining her love for writing and motorsports she has created some interesting and in-depth stories on drivers like Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining ES with 3 years of experience in the field of writing, Mamata feels right at home in her role as a NASCAR Journalist.

Edited by:

Shivali Nathta

Dale Jr’s Infuriated Veteran Fires Shots at NASCAR’s “Comedy of Errors” After Botched Rain Delay Muck-Up

Justin Allgaier expressed his dissatisfaction with NASCAR

NASCAR mishandling the rain caution at the Monster Mile

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