NASCAR

NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Justin Allgaier Stealing Hard Rock Bet 300 From Kyle Larson In OT At Homestead-Miami Speedway

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published22 Mar 2025

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Kyle Larson played too many games. 

On Saturday’s overtime start at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Larson elected to go inside and began toying with the NASCAR Xfinity Series racers. He waited … and waited … and waited before attempting to launch, proving costly.

Sam Mayer, driving behind the 2021 Cup Series champion, admitted to being a bit too eager. He tapped Larson’s machine and disrupted Larson’s momentum just enough to allow Justin Allgaier to continue his series stranglehold. 

The defending Xfinity titleholder withstood an overtime challenge from Mayer to claim the Hard Rock Bet 300 crown, his second in a row. 

Mayer, the runner-up, accepted the blame, admitting Larson’s gamesmanship was at another level.   

“I mistimed it, unfortunately,” Sam Mayer told CW. “I got to his bumper too early. He went really, really late in the (restart) box. Playing games. That’s what you gotta do at this level to get the advantage.  

“He just waited really long and I wasn’t kinda ready for it.”  

Larson, who earned the Truck Series event at the 1.5-mile track Friday night, led 132 laps Saturday. At one point in the second stage, Larson led by nearly 15 seconds. 

Allgaier, however, stole the title. 

X (Twitter) users responded to Allgaier cashing in on Dash 4 Cash bonus … 

Engines started (trust me!) … 

The Xfinity Sunshine State start … 

Allgaier displayed early muscle, overtaking pole-sitter Taylor Gray along Turn 1 on Lap 7. Larson, meanwhile, showed his machine’s speed, moving up from P17 to P5 … 

Beginning to battle off a Lap 24 restart, Larson, Mayer and Allgaier exchange jabs. Larson emerged as the leader on Lap 26 … 

Kris Wright spins out along Turn 4 on Lap 30 … 

Utilizing fresh rubber, Sammy Smith passed Kyle Sieg on the final Stage 1 lap to earn 10 points … 

Starting on Lap 75 and ending six rotations later, Larson challenged and overtook Mayer … 

Larson wins Stage 2 as Hendrick Motorsports claimed three stage wins with three different pilots … 

Through 190 of 200 scheduled laps, Larson was so dominant, he lapped Jesse Love, who was running P6. Gray, running P10, spun out and crashed with seven laps remaining … 

 The OT waiting game started and ended up costing Larson … 

 The victor …