DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Dale Earnhardt Jr., has always championed Justin Allgaier’s efforts.
Long before a JR Motorsports Cup entry became a reality in the Daytona 500, Earnhardt had Allgaier’s best interests in heart.
On Sunday, in JRM’s maiden venture into Cup, Allgaier’s ninth-place finish was his best result in the Great American Race.
“I think we checked all the boxes,” Allgaier said. “Really proud of JR Motorsports and everybody on this team. We hit all the markers. We had DVP (damaged vehicle policy). We had pit stops. We had craziness in picking lines. A lot of uncertainty on my part, just knowing the guys you are around.
“But all-in-all, it was a solid night. Missing the crash there at the end was cool. I assumed the caution was out and I didn’t know we were racing back to the line. That was cool to race back to the line and get a top-10.
“Just want to thank everybody at Travellers Whiskey, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelly Earnhardt Miller, and everybody that let me be a part of this…This is a big moment for JR Motorsports, and we are excited about what the future holds for our company.”
Last week, during all the fanfare surrounding the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet qualifying for the Daytona 500, Earnhardt posted a photo on social media of the moment he asked Allgaier to join the fold.
A decade ago, Earnhardt made Allgaier an offer he couldn’t refuse while riding in the back of a pickup truck during driver introductions for the Southern 500. Allgaier was in his final year with HScott Racing on the NASCAR Cup tour.
“What’s funny about that photo is the family that bought that photo, the Libbys, they have been a huge supporter of mine,” Allgaier said of his fellow Illinoisan. “They have been great friends of ours for a number of years. And they bought that photo on ebay of all places almost 10 years ago.
“We’ve had them at the race track three or four times a year every year since then and Dale has been at a lot of those events. But it’s never been a time when they thought it was the right time for Dale to sign it. They have tried to stay out of the way. I have seen that photo for years—and I never really put two and two together. I did, but I didn’t.”
Friday at Daytona International Speedway, Earnhardt was checking in on his Xfinity Series teams when the Libbys arrived at Allgaier’s transporter.
“When the photo was brought over to Dale, he immediately—there wasn’t even a second thought—he said, ‘That’s the shot. That’s the day.’ It was so cool to see his excitement,” Allgaier said. “He took the photo up in the truck and took a picture of it.
“Again, I haven’t seen Dale so sentimental about anything. And it was really special to see that. That moment, it changed the course of my career. I love this race team.”
Allgaier was just 16 when he made his ARCA debut. The Riverton, Illinois, native was on the fast track to climb through the NASCAR ranks. But after two mediocre seasons in Cup with a now-defunct team, Allgaier had to make a tough decision.
“I get a lot of questions about the Cup side, all of the stuff that we’ve done.” Allgaier said. “To be honest with you, I still miss the Cup Series with all of my heart. I would love to race over there. But when you have a team like I have over here, when you have people around you like I have here, Dale’s sentiments are what has kept me here and what has kept me wanting to move JR Motorsports in a forward direction for the time that I have.
“It was special to see his excitement over that. That picture will now live on in knowing that that’s the moment that really changed the course of what this race team looks like over the last 10 years.”
Although nine seasons passed before Allgaier, 38, delivered the 2024 Xfinity Series Championship to JR Motorsports, the accomplishment was well worth the wait.
“It’s been different, but not in the way you would think,” Allgaier said. “It’s just been busy. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to enjoy a lot of things. But life still happens whether you’re a champion or not. As my two daughters get older, my wife (Ashley) is an absolute rock star with what she does to be able to help with the kids and to make sure everything is taken care of at home just because of all the travel we do.
“And as my parents get older, you know a couple of years ago I bought half of my parents business, so I’ve been trying to be more available in the offseason for them and do more with them as they’re trying to slow down a little bit.”
But Allgaier himself isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In addition to family duties and testing for Chevrolet and their new battery electric vehicle (BEV), the driver’s schedule is full. Entering Daytona, Allgaier had to juggle his day job in Xfinity as well as being in the spotlight as JRM’s first Cup driver.
“It’s been tough to manage but it’s also been fun because it has not allowed me to think about the pressure—especially the pressure what’s happened this week with the Cup Series car,” Allgaier said. “I told you earlier, I’ve never seen Dale as sentimental—I don’t know if emotional is the right word—but he’s been nervous. And that nervous energy really shows me how much this sport still means to him.
“He could be doing anything he wants to do, and he still loves this sport with all of his heart—and Kelley (Earnhardt Miller) and L.W. (Miller) and everybody that has been a part of this, it has been really special. (Sponsor) Rick Brandt has been hanging out all week—and has been a part of the Cup program as well. Obviously having Traveller Whiskey on the Cup Series side, they’ve put up a full effort into this. When you step back and look at the global scale of things, it has really been special.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
