Justin Allgaier involved in NASCAR Xfinity practice crash ahead of championship race

Justin Allgaier, in contention for the NASCAR Xfinity Series title this weekend in Phoenix, was involved in a practice crash during Friday’s session at Phoenix Raceway.

Brennan Poole, driving the No. 44 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet, had an issue going through turns 1 and 2, and apparently laid some fluid on the track. Allgaier, Brandon Jones and Aric Almirola ran through the slick surface, slid up to the wall and made solid contact.

Several other cars ended up with damage before the red flag was out, but Allgaier was the lone Championship 4 driver involved in the incident. Almirola and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team is still in contention for the owners points title.

The No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team was already unloading the backup car for Allgaier with more than a half-hour remaining in the practice session, which means he’ll start at the back of the field on Saturday. Allgaier expressed his anger by pounding on the pit box after getting out of the car in the garage area, then told NBC that the damaged car was the best car he’s ever had at Phoenix.

Alpha Prime Racing tweeted later Friday that there was a transmission issue on the No. 44 car.

Allgaier, Austin Hill, AJ Allmendinger and Cole Custer are in the Championship 4 in the Xfinity Series, which will decide the 2024 champion in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Justin Allgaier involved in NASCAR Xfinity Phoenix practice crash