With inputs from the Associated Press

AJ Allmendinger held the lead he took with four laps left in regulation through three overtimes on Saturday to claim the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race title at Michigan International Speedway just six days after winning the Cup Series’ Brickyard 200.

Allmendinger beat Brandon Jones by a margin of just 0.163 seconds in the longest Xfinity contest ever on the two-mile track. Noah Gragson claimed the podium by finishing third.

Allmendinger has won three Xfinity titles this season and eight overall.

He put the number 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet in front by going to the high side of leader Josh Berry and side-drafting his way past, with Jones following him into second.

Allmendinger just had to survive three more restarts, getting help from Jones who was running right behind Allmendinger on the outside line all three times.

Berry appeared to be headed toward a dream finish in the same week, he took a full-time ride with JR Motorsports and just one day after finishing 15th in the Truck Series race in suburban St. Louis. This time, as the replacement for Michael Annett in the number 1 Chevrolet, he charged through the field from the 40th and final spot on the starting grid to take the lead on Lap 88.

The 30-year-old Tennessean just could not quite hold it.