Veteran Justin Allgaier has plenty of reason to feel especially optimistic about this Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 (1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). A year ago, he started on pole position, led a race best 133 of the 200 laps but finished fifth as John Hunter Nemechek claimed the trophy leading only seven laps on the afternoon.
Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, had another trophy near-miss this season, claiming both stage wins and leading 52 consecutive laps in the closing portion of the Phoenix race when he crashed with a tire problem only three laps shy of the checkered flag.
The near-misses are something drivers always remember, but Allgaier goes into the weekend feeling more motivated than frustrated. He’s got a promising record at the Texas 1.5-miler. He’s had 14 top-10 finishes in 26 starts and led at least 20 laps in five of the last seven races.
“Texas has been a really strong track for us since the repave,” Allgaier said. “We came so close here in the [2023] Fall of bringing home the win and I know that we will have the same speed again this weekend.”
He’ll certainly need it in a similarly highly-motivated field. The championship points leader, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith holds a 35-point edge over reigning series champion, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer. Smith is the only driver in the series to earn top-10 finishes in all seven races this season. And his 242 laps led is most among fulltime drivers.
Smith and Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill each have two wins this season – the only fulltime championship contenders to hoist a trophy. Smith finished fourth at Texas last year in his only previous start.
Custer is the only former Texas winner among the 2024 championship contenders and has quite the Lone Star resume himself. The driver of the No. 00 SHR Ford has six top-10 finishes – four top-five – in seven Texas starts, including the 2018 victory.
The always exciting Dash 4 Cash incentive program returns this week with Allgaier, his JR Motorsports teammate Sam Mayer along with Chandler Smith and his JGR teammate Sheldon Creed all eligible for the big $100,000 prize. The bonus will be awarded to the highest finisher of the four drivers.
The top four eligible drivers coming from the Texas race will compete for the big money at Talladega Superspeedway next Saturday.
Of note, Ryan Truex returns to competition this week driving the No. 20 JGR Toyota that Aric Almirola drove to victory last weekend at Martinsville, Va. And NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series standout Daniel Dye will make his second Xfinity Series start of the year driving the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. Truck series championship contender Corey Heim is entered in the No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Matt DiBenedetto will drive the No. 38 RSS Racing Ford.
Practice for the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 begins Friday at 6 p.m. ET followed by qualifying at 6:30 p.m. ET – both will be televised on FS1.
Source: Holly Cain | NASCAR Wire Service
