CONCORD, N.C.: Prior to the start of the Drive For The Cure 250, Justin Allgaier knew what was on the line for his playoff run. “I know that everyone on this Jarrett team is ready to go.
“This team has been resilient all year long and we are going to keep fighting until the very end.”
Fight is exactly what Allgaier and his JR Motorsports team did at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.
With the goal of collecting points throughout the day to ensure that he would be a part of the Round of 8, the Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet driver would begin his day in the ninth starting position.
Radio chatter from the driver early in the race would confirm that the very stressed Riverton, Illinois native was not going to have patience for drivers that were in the way of his progression through the field after relaying displeasure with the No. 2 car of Jesse Love. “I’m done with him.”
Moving his way through the field, Allgaier communicated to his team that his car was laterally loose to the left and tight to the right.
Promising to help him out at his next pit stop, Allgaier persevered and finished Stage 1 in third place, earning him eight valuable points for the playoffs.
Coming to pit road for a set of new Goodyear tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment, crew chief Jim Pohlman reminded his driver
“We got a lot of work to do here. We are not talking points. Gonna run the stages and get points.”
Starting the second stage in the 21st position, Allgaier knew that he had to move his way up to the front of the field and with the help of a series of cautions he would work his way through the field.
By Lap 35 Allgaier had moved up into the 12th position when the caution flag would come out for a multi-car wreck on the front stretch.
Once again, the team relayed to their agitated driver, “We need to stay focused on our goal. Collect as many stage points as we can.”
Listening to the team’s advice, Allgaier would finish Stage 2 in first place and gain another 10 playoff points, moving closer to the goal of making it to the Round of 8.
Coming to pit road at the end of Stage 2, Allgaier would tell his team “Really look at the right front. It was vibrating.
The track bar adjustment helped last time, but I don’t need more. If you can give me rear drive on this racetrack, I will always take it.”
With that being said, Allgaier would get another new set of Goodyear tires and fuel and return to the track in the 22nd spot for the beginning of Stage 3.
Working his way through the field once again, the frantic driver continued to ask about the points situation, and once again, the team told Allgaier to focus forward and not on the points.
Allgaier would continue to move up and finish his day in seventh place securing his place in the penultimate round of the playoffs
“This is amazing and we can breathe a little bit this week and get to Vegas and hopefully kick some butt,” said Allgaier.
Feeling good about making it to the next round the jubilant Allgaier had this to say after the race Saturday night.
“It feels amazing. Finishing seventh wasn’t on my bingo card today to make our way into the next round but with strategy and you know Jim Pohlmann did such an amazing job today.
“When I say Jim Pohlmann, he always gets the credit but the whole seven team.
“The effort they put in, the time, the energy. I’m so proud of the group that we have.”
Next up for Justin Allgaier is the Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 19th, 2025, at 7:30 pm ET.
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