The NFPA 250 at the “Paperclip” delivered exactly what it promised: close-quarter action, fender-bending racing, and late-race chaos. And when it was all said and done, it was Justin Allgaier standing tall at Martinsville Speedway, muscling his way through a frantic closing stretch to hand JR Motorsports its fifth consecutive victory.
Starting from the pole after qualifying was washed out, the JRM veteran immediately established himself as the driver to beat. But Martinsville, following its usual script, shuffled the pecking order. Early on, Hendrick Motorsports’ Corey Day and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debutant Lee Pulliam cycled through the lead, with the inside lane proving dominant on restarts and long-run pace separating the field as runs stretched out.
By the halfway point, the race settled into a rhythm. Tire wear became a factor, and drivers who avoided trouble started gaining spots. Allgaier stayed consistent, kept his No. 7 Chevrolet under control on longer runs, and moved forward through traffic.
Then, with 16 laps to go, it all fell apart. On the restart, the field stacked up with nowhere to go, and cars started piling in until the track was completely blocked, forcing the only red flag of the race. Once things finally got sorted, the 2024 NOAPS champion got on from where he started.
He powered away on the final restart and never looked back, securing his third win of the season and continuing a scorching stretch for both driver and team.
Allgaier wasted little time asserting control, starting from the front row, going on to lead a race-high 114 of 250 laps. He captured Stage 1, marking his third stage win of the season and the 87th of his NOAPS career. The stage ended under caution after Blaine Perkins spun his No. 0 car.
Stage 2 saw a shift in momentum, with Austin Hill taking the stage win after showcasing strong short-run speed. Behind him, several contenders, including Allgaier, remained firmly in contention as the field tightened heading into the final segment.
The race’s defining moment came with 16 laps to go. On a restart, debutant Lee Pulliam, who had an impressive run, leading 40 laps, missed a shift in his No. 9 JRM Chevrolet. His sudden loss of speed bunched up the outside lane, leading to contact with teammate Carson Kvapil and triggering a massive chain-reaction crash.
What followed was a full-blown gridlock: 19 cars were involved in the incident, effectively turning the half-mile oval into a parking lot. The wreck brought out the only red flag of the race and dramatically reshaped the running order.
When racing resumed, Allgaier executed flawlessly. Despite the pressure of repeated restarts and aggressive moves behind him, he maintained control and drove away to his second career Martinsville win and the 31st victory of his career, his third on the 2026 season.
The race featured 14 lead changes among multiple drivers and was slowed by 14 cautions, including one red flag. Allgaier led a race-high 114 laps, while Corey Day paced the field for 37 laps and Lee Pulliam led 40. Austin Hill contributed nine laps led, with Rajah Caruth adding 18 and Harrison Burton 17. Allgaier also recorded the fastest lap of the race at 20.5 seconds.
