DARLINGTON, S.C. — Audio and recap by Managing Editor Jacob Seelman for Speed77 Radio and Race Chaser Online — Slip Angle Motorsports/iRacing.com photo — With one pit stop and a flying run to the end, the entire complexion of the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series (NPAS) championship changed on Tuesday night.

Race dominator and championship leader Michael Conti ducked down pit road with 41 laps to go during the Too Tough to Tame 250 at Darlington Raceway when it became apparent that he could not go the distance on fuel, and ultimately it was his title rival Ray Alfalla who capitalized, taking his second victory of the 2014 season and series-leading 13th career win on a fuel strategy that paid handsome dividends in the points race.

Alfalla went 61 laps on each of his fuel runs in a race that only saw two caution flags to steal the victory as everyone else had to come down for a splash of fuel, leading the final 10 laps and 15 laps overall en route to the win, shaving Conti’s championship lead down to 13 points entering the season finale in two weeks at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“I was actually saving after that first yellow but I was a little surprised when Conti pulled off. Either way, after that first yellow I knew we were good to go on the two stops,” Alfalla said in Gatorade Victory Lane. “Just glad it stayed green to the end. It may have seemed a little chaotic there but it was all according to plan.”

Alfalla’s teammate Byron Daley stretched his fuel to the finish as well, holding off a late rebound on two tires by Conti to claim the runner-up spot. Conti finished third after rallying from a lap down on two fresh tires.

“I had fun tonight,” Conti said following the race. “I will admit, I wasn’t quite there with fuel mileage tonight — I need to work on that — but I enjoyed this race; JScho gave me a flying race car and I think we showed that we’re not going away. I’m ready to take this strong run and convert it into a championship; Homestead is going to be the one race all year where I drive like a full-time driver because it’s time to do that. We’re ready to take this to the end.”

Bryan Blackford and Landon Harrison rounded out the top five at the checkered flag.

Polesitter Nick Ottinger led the field to green and paced the early laps despite the race’s first caution flying on lap three when Blackford and Chris Overland tangled early. However, Ottinger tagged the wall with the right side on lap 14 and gave the lead up to Conti and was never a major factor from there. He finished in 14th and falls 33 points behind the championship lead with only the Homestead finale to go.

The race’s second and final caution came out at lap 57 when Brandon Schmidt was tagged on the frontstretch and collected Michael Johnson’s Gale Force Racing Toyota just after Ottinger had come to pit road, pinning him a lap down and forcing him to use the wave-around to get back to the lead lap.

By halfway, Conti was flexing his muscle and pulled out to a 3.4 second advantage, however as Alfalla paced his race, the fuel strategy began to play out, and when Conti had to come down pit road at lap 117 for his second fuel stop, the die was cast.

Chad Laughton, who entered the night fourth in the standings and still had a mathematical shot at taking home the title, finished seventh but fell to 49 points behind Conti and was officially eliminated from championship contention.

With Darlington in the history books, the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series turns its attention to the final race of the 2014 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. What started as a season where 49 drivers had a shot to take home championship glory has come down to three drivers who remain standing above the rest. Will it be Michael Conti hanging onto his points lead and claiming his first PEAK Antifreeze Series title? Will it be Ray Alfalla coming from behind to claim his third championship in four seasons? Or will Nick Ottinger swing for the fences and connect to claim an improbable first crown? And who will win the season’s final race and be able to celebrate all the way to the 2015 season kicking off at Daytona?

Find out in two weeks on October 7th, with exclusive coverage and content on PSRTV, the Motor Racing Network, iRacing Live and Race Chaser Online!

Post-race press conference with race winner Ray Alfalla:

Post-race press conference with 3rd-place and championship leader Michael Conti: