Justin Allgaier wins 1st NASCAR Xfinity title, capping comeback by passing Hill and Custer late

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Justin Allgaier won his first NASCAR Xfinity season championship Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway, making a stunning comeback after falling a lap down midway through the race.

Allgaier bounced back from an early flat tire and back-to-back penalties, working his way back through the field before passing Austin Hill and Cole Custer on an overtime restart with two laps remaining. The No. 7 Chevrolet took four tires during his pit stop before overtime, including two new ones on his right side, before shooting past Hill and Custer on the restart.

After Allgaier made the pass, there was a crash back in the pack, bringing out another caution, but the JR Motorsports driver survived the double-overtime restart to take home a long-awaited title.

It’s the fourth Xfinity title for owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports — and the first since 2018.

“This is mind-blowing, it really is,” Allgaier said. “We tried to give it away every way we could.”

The 38-year-old Allgaier finished second in the race behind Stewart-Haas Racing's Riley Herbst, but it didn't matter because he beat the other three championship finalists: Custer finished eighth, AJ Allmendinger was ninth and Hill 10th.

“It stings for our team — you're always going to be salty when you finish second,” Custer said. “But at the end of the day, that's just how it goes sometimes.”

It's a big moment for Allgaier, who had won 25 Xfinity races in his career, but had never won a championship despite making the final four seven times over the past nine years. He finished in second in 2020 and 2023. He's been one of the most popular drivers during his 14 seasons on the Xfinity series — among drivers and fans — and multiple drivers were quick to congratulate him.

“I'm just excited for Justin — it's been an incredible career and he's worked so hard,” Earnhardt Jr. said.

Allgaier had an eventful night, starting from the back of the field after switching to a backup car because of a crash during Friday's practice. Regardless, he shot up the leaderboard early in the race and it took him just 26 laps to enter the top 10.

But Allgaier got into trouble midway through the race when his back left tire started losing air following contact with Herbst. Allgaier lost a few positions, but was able to make it to the end of the second stage in 10th place.

His championship hopes looked as if they were dashed on the ensuing restart, when he received back-to-back penalties for an improper restart and then speeding on pit road. That dropped him to a lap behind the field, but he got back onto the lead lap after a well-timed caution when Anthony Alfredo crashed into the wall.

Given new life, Allgaier methodically worked his way back through the field before the crucial pass of Hill and Custer with two laps to go.

Allmendinger also started from the back of the field because he changed brakes after qualifying. The Kaulig Racing Chevrolet moved up to the middle of the pack fairly quickly, but struggled with handling all night.

Herbst also won the first two stages, which were both 45 laps.

Custer and Allmendinger are both moving up to the Cup Series next season.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Justin Allgaier holds up the trophy as Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., left, cheers after winning the championship after a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Jesse Love (2) and Cole Custer (00) drive during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Justin Allgaier gets in his car before a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Justin Allgaier makes a pit stop during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Justin Allgaier does a burnout after winning the championship after a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Justin Allgaier celebrates after winning the championship after a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Klay Thompson exited the team bus then beamed as he strolled back into Chase Center on Tuesday night, greeted by some 400 cheering Warriors employees who lined up along his path to the Dallas locker room to show their love and appreciation for the former Golden State star.

They sported “Captain Klay” hats, the giveaway for all fans on a celebratory night remembering Thompson's 13 years with the franchise, two of those spent injured, and four championships he helped win here.

Those white hats filled Chase Center, where video highlights of Thompson showed in a place where he's still beloved — and always will be. Stephen Curry jogged up to Thompson, now wearing No. 31 with teammate Kyrie Irving in No. 11, and offered a quick embrace before Andrew Wiggins also hugged his old teammate.

Earlier, after a brief jump-rope routine outside the Mavericks' locker room, Thompson ran out the tunnel and onto the floor to thunderous applause from Warriors fans with phones up to capture the moment of Thompson's return.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry had considered addressing the crowd before tipoff but spoke with Thompson and they decided to each focus on the game, though Kerr knew it would be something when they had to defend each other.

Who would the Warriors put on Thompson?

“I'm not telling you,” Kerr cracked.

Curry fouled his former Splash Brother 15 seconds into the game and Thompson scored the initial two points of the contest on free throws. Thompson missed his initial two field-goal attempts before knocking down a 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining in the opening quarter.

“I imagine that he'll be the exact same guy that I watched for 10 years, so he's always aggressive,” Kerr said. “I'm sure he's coming out firing and none of us would have it any way different than that.”

The Warriors invited all their employees to be part of the welcoming committee for Thompson, who joined Dallas in July on a three-year, $50 million contract. Thompson, 34, missed more than 2 1/2 years — the entire 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons — recovering from surgeries on his left knee and right Achilles tendon before making his comeback in January 2022.

“I think what he overcame is almost unprecedented,” Kerr said. “... The last couple of years after he came back he struggled reconciling all of that, losing those prime seasons. We all saw that, saw him struggle with it emotionally. We saw him fight to get his game back. He helped us win a championship, led the league in 3s two years ago, he did a lot of amazing things.

"We wished that this had gone forever, that Klay would have finished his career with us but circumstances always dictate these things. In the end I think he made the right choice. I think he needed a fresh start, I think he needed kind of a new set of surroundings and that was apparent last year. He was not happy and that was hard to see, because he deserves to be happy. At his core he's a very happy person.”

Thompson has tried to downplay the magnitude of being back in the Bay Area, though it certainly was emotional for everybody involved.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and basketball is basketball,” he said.

But when the home crowd went crazy and tipped those captain hats when he was introduced, Thompson became visibly emotional and clearly touched by the tribute. He waved and saluted in several directions.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd called the Mavericks “lucky to get him," and imagined how hard this might be for Thompson with so many emotions.

“He’s a true pro. Comes to work, understands what it means to win,” Kidd said. "We can talk about his ability to shoot the ball, space and his gravity. We can run him around, he’s going to create space for others. So when you talk about the big picture that’s hard to find, and we didn’t have that, and it was much-needed.”

Golden State held a “Salute Captain Klay” ceremony before tipoff to pay tribute to Thompson’s contributions to the franchise and his tradition of boating across the bay to games. He will be back again in February in the Mavs' second trip to Chase Center.

“This is all staff. It's unbelievable,” Warriors President and COO Brandon Schneider said. “What Klay has meant to our organization and to all of us the last 13 years, the team accomplishments, individual accomplishments, who he is as a person, what he's done in the community, it is a special night.”

For Kerr, this moment felt far different from Thompson's triumphant return nearly three years ago from the injuries and daunting grind of rehab that the veteran guard considered some of the most difficult days of his life.

“That was a welcome back, we knew there were a lot of good times ahead. In fact there was a championship six months later,” Kerr said. “This one is obviously more of a goodbye, the first time we will have seen him. ... It'll feel very strange but it will be a different vibe, more of a thank you and a goodbye and everything that you've meant to us."

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, right, is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, left, loses the ball while driving to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson waves toward fans before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Mavericks in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans cheer as Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson jogs onto the court to warm up before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson warms up before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, hugs Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, middle, as guard Kyrie Irving, right, walks on the court before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson reacts toward fans before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Mavericks in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., right, shoots over Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

FILE - Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots against Utah Jazz forward's Darius Bazley (21) and Brice Sensabaugh (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn, File)

FILE - Golden State Warriors guards Klay Thompson, left, and Stephen Curry and forward Draymond Green, right, laugh while being interviewed, Nov. 30, 2023, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, foreground left, is greeted by Golden State Warriors employees and media as he arrives before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game between the Warriors and the Mavericks in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson is greeted by Golden State Warriors employees and media as he arrives before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game between the Warriors and the Mavericks in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)