After 14 full seasons and eight championship-contending years (seven of which included multiple wins),
it seems only a matter of time before Justin Allgaier steps onto the podium as the NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion at Phoenix Raceway this November.
Chevrolet driver No. 7, of JR Motorsports, has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the team, advancing to their fourth championship appearance in five of the last seven years, with second-place finishes in the title-deciding finales of 2020 and 2023. However, sealing the deal on a championship still eludes them.
Allgaier, now 38, enters the 2024 Xfinity Series playoffs as one of the top contenders for the No. 1 seed, having secured two wins this season. With six races standing between him and another shot at that elusive title,
Allgaier is determined to break through. Yet, the pressure is mounting. “I think the hardest thing is, after being successful year after year without winning the championship, how do you go into Phoenix with a new mindset?” Allgaier reflected during the Xfinity Series playoff media day.
His March performance at Phoenix, a one-mile track in Arizona, seemed to mirror his previous title pursuits. Leading by three seconds with just five laps remaining, it appeared Allgaier was headed for victory—until a blown tire in Turn 1 sent him into the wall, abruptly ending his race.
The 2024 season has been particularly challenging, with moments like the regular-season finale at Bristol serving as painful reminders. Allgaier had led the standings by 43 points, but a series of unfortunate events, including being spun out after contact with Sheldon Creed, relegated him to a 30th-place finish, costing him the regular-season championship by just three points.
“This has been one of the weirdest years for us,” Allgaier admitted. “It’s been one of my toughest seasons, but we still did everything right.”
Despite the setbacks, Allgaier enters the playoffs as the points leader, thanks to his accumulated bonus points. “I want to go to Phoenix and contend for the championship,” Allgaier said. “But we still have to get there, and the rounds leading up to it are full of unknowns.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of JR Motorsports, sees immense potential in the duo of Allgaier and crew chief Jim Pohlman.
Since pairing up at the start of 2023, the two have secured six wins, 22 top-five finishes, and 35 top-10 finishes in 59 races. Earnhardt believes they are close to their breakthrough.
“I think they’re in the best position to win,” Earnhardt said at Bristol. “They’ve had some tough breaks, but the speed and consistency are there. If it doesn’t happen this year, I’m confident it will soon.”
Allgaier shares a strong bond with Pohlman, noting that even when things haven’t gone their way, their teamwork and communication remain solid.
“I think you need highs and lows in this sport,” Allgaier said. “The valleys reset you and fuel your drive to succeed.”
As the playoffs kick off with a trip to Kansas Speedway, Allgaier is motivated to make the most of this opportunity. With JR Motorsports backing him and the experience gained over his storied career, Allgaier remains a perennial threat for the Xfinity Series championship.
Earnhardt, himself a two-time series champion, is confident that Allgaier’s time will come. “Justin represents our team and partners perfectly,” Earnhardt said. “I want to help him win this championship because I know how much it means to him.”
