By David Morgan, Associate Editor
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Justin Allgaier tried and failed to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship half a dozen times before finally breaking through by winning that elusive title a year ago.
Returning to Phoenix as the defending series champion, and a self-described changed man, Allgaier will be looking to end the day with his No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet at the top of the mountain once again.
“It feels great for as many times as we came and tried and failed, it was like last year was just a culmination of all the things that you want to have happened over time that never really seemed to fall your way,” said Allgaier.
“So, when I look back 365 days ago, it was such a different mindset, different personality, and I’m glad to see, I actually love how that race ended because it changed me as a driver. It changed me as a person. Championship aside. Just being able to come back from what we had that night, it made me value the sport a lot differently. And so, it’s been really a lot of fun this last year.”
Allgaier explained that for all the trials and tribulations he had been through in his career in pursuit of the championship, for him and his team to have to battle back the way they did in this race one year ago, it allowed him to unlock something within himself during that race that has carried through in the year since then.
“The way last year went, the crash in practice, just the penalties, everything we went through, I was tore out of frame. I didn’t know how to comprehend all of it,” said Allgaier.
“And that last run before the caution came out was probably the most freeing 60 or 70 laps or whatever it was of my entire career because I sat there in this moment of I’m almost two laps down. I have no shot at winning a championship. How do I become okay with this? You’re thinking about all these things as you’re driving and also not making a mistake at the same time. And then whenever the caution come out, you flip that switch and you’re back into this mode.
“But when I walked away from the weekend, I was like, man, those 60 or 70 laps were the most awesome laps in my entire career because it allowed me to make peace with, hey, this might not be your year, this might not be the time. And then God opens doors that you don’t ever really know are going to open sometimes. And then you go, alright, I’m going to rush through ’em. And we did that.
“So for me, I think me personally, I’m in this completely different mindset in 2025 than I’ve ever been. And I don’t know if that makes me dangerous or dumb. I think a little of both. But I really truly am excited for this weekend and listen, no matter who wins this, there’s not a non-deserving champion in this group. I’m super proud of the series right now and where we’re at and I’m just pumped to see where it goes.”
He added even though he reached his ultimate goal of winning the championship last year, it has only fueled his want to go out and do it again to get to experience everything that comes with being on that championship stage at night’s end.
“I think that’s the one thing that I probably enjoy the most is you don’t realize how much the ups are up until the downs are really low. I remember three-ish years ago, Dale Jr. and I had a big moment on pit road and I was devastated because in my mind all of the things were showing that that was going to be the year.
“And I dunno, I think sometimes it’s really easy to read into things that maybe aren’t really there. So last year I think, like I said, it made me realize how much more I wanted it and then to be able to get it. Now, I still want it. I want it equally as bad this year, maybe more, right? Because I know what the experience is like.”
But being the elder statesman of the Xfinity Series, Allgaier noted that he is aware that everything could be trending in the right direction on Saturday night, but the volatility of a one-race championship could throw everything out the window and force drivers and teams to adjust on the fly.
“But at the same time you have to realize that you’re not in control of it,” he said. “I mean, yes, I have to go out and race to the best of my ability, but I’m not in control of what’s going to happen. You could have a random restart, you could have a tire go down, you could have another competitor that just doesn’t want to see you win that day. And you know what? That’s fine. That’s okay.”
Allgaier added that he’s been here before and has seen how these one-race championships play out and is looking forward to seeing how his younger counterparts in the Championship 4, Connor Zilisch, Carson Kvapil, and Jesse Love, all handle their first appearance in the title race.
“It’s just a different mindset. It’s a different personality. And I’m excited to see that because everybody handles it differently,” said Allgaier. “Everybody handles the pressure differently. And I think it’s going to be fun to see how this race plays out on Saturday night and it’s going to be aggressive.
“It’s going to be, I think you’re going to have all four of us battling for the win, let alone for the championship. But that’s what this format is for.
“And there’s a lot of talk in the media about changing the format, right? Well, yes, maybe I would do it differently, but at the end of the day, I’m excited to see how this race goes because I think you got four guys that are going to go maximize whatever the format is and we’re going to go have some fun.”
