NOAPS Race Recap: GOVX 200

The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series headed west to Phoenix Raceway for the GOVX 200 and the fourth race of the season. Jesse Love, reigning series champ, continued his speed at the track and secured the runner-up spot for the start. Taylor Gray joined him on the front row with the pole. Anthony Alfredo and Brandon Jones started on the second row. Cup series regular William Byron started the race in sixth. The stage lengths were 45 laps for the first and second stage with the final stage being 110 laps.

Mr. Smith Goes to the Front

Gray got a great launch at the start of the race. Love spun his tires and could not get off the line. Jones tried to pass for second on the inside but could not make it stick. Jeb Burton made contact with the left rear of Alfredo. They both were able to keep it straight and continue on.

Justin Allgaier, after qualifying in 17th, joined the top ten before lap eight. He was the fastest car on track early.

Love tracked down the leader and was able to pass him for the lead on the inside of turn one. Gray fought back but settled in second with Jones closing in on his rear.

Jones was passed by Byron and Sammy Smith, falling to fifth.

Nick Sanchez slowed on the track. He complained over the radio that he had no power and his electronics in the car were shut off. He limped to the pits.

Byron caught and passed Gray for second. However, he could not close the gap to the leader. His teammate, Allgaier, continued his speed. He cracked the top five with 20 to go in the stage.

Smith got around Byron for the runner-up spot. He slowly closed the gap to the leader, two-tenths of a second at a time. With five to go, Smith dove underneath the leader in turns one and two. He did not have enough to make the pass, but continued his pursuit. He got a great run off of turn four and took the lead as they crossed the start/finish line.

Smith went on to take stage one win in the GOVX 200! Love, Allgaier, Carson Kvapil, and Byron rounded out the top five.

Nothing but Love

Kvapil and Love brought the field back to green for stage two. Love got the better restart and was able to retake the lead out of turn two. Smith and Brent Crews made contact which sent Smith up the track.

Love pulled away by over two seconds and was the fastest car on track. He began to try new things in turns three and four.

Love led the stage coast to coast, winning the second stage in the GOVX 200! Kvapil, Byron, Allgaier, and Crews finished the stage in the top five.

Allgaier had an issue with his right rear during his pit stop.

Green Flag Pitstops

Love and Gray brought the field back to green. Love retook his lead immediately, while Gray settled into second.

The grip and speed picked up, and so did the racing. Crews and Sawalich got together, which allowed Smith to get by both of them.

Love pulled away from the field by about a second over Kvapil.

Kvapil began to shrink the gap to Love, cutting it down to half a second. He got to the inside of Love and patiently made the pass. They were side by side, battling for the spot. Love was holding on tight to the top spot. Kvapil finally took the lead with 61 laps left in the race.

Allgaier recovered from his pit stop miscue. He got back into the top ten and slowly made his way up the leaderboard.

Sawalich was the first car on pit road. He pitted with 50 laps left in the race. Sheldon Creed was the next to pit. The rest of the top ten pitted over the next few laps.

Jeb Burton assumed the lead with Smith in second.

After pit stops concluded, Creed used his early stop to get out front.

Lavar Scott got turned on the back stretch off the nose of Anthony Alfredo. That brought out the third caution of the evening.

29 to go

Kvapil and Creed restarted the race on the front row. Allgaier restarted in 10th. Sam Mayer, from the second row, split the front row and fought with his teammate for the lead. Love got in front of Kvapil for third.

The fourth caution came out when Brandon Jones got turned off the nose of Sammy Smith. Jones got hit by Taylor Gray. Sawalich then ran into the back of Gray and got the worst of the damage. Sawalich tried to limp to the pits but could not make it.

Teammates, Creed and Mayer, brought the green flag back out with 15 to go. Creed used a great run off of turn two to retake the lead. Allgaier passed Kvapil to take third. Creed got into the outside wall out of turn four. Allgaier and Love got around him to take first and second.

Allgaier made his way around Love to take the lead with 10 to go in the race.

Love did not go away. He pushed to retake the lead but was unable to. Allgaier, Love, and Kvapil were separated by less than a second with four to go. Love could not get to Allgaier. Allgaier took the white flag, then the checkered flag to win the GOVX 200!

Marvin’s Minute:

It was only a matter of time before Justin Allgaier would find victory lane this season. He has shown consistent speed for a decade. He will always be a contender for the title, especially with the new point system, which pays for consistency. Jesse Love impressed me in the GOVX 200. He just did not have enough for Allgaier. The series continues next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway!