AVONDALE, Ariz. — Justin Allgaier clinched his inaugural NASCAR Xfinity season championship on Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway, showcasing an impressive turnaround after encountering a setback that saw him one lap down during the race.
Allgaier rallied to navigate through the competition, overtaking Austin Hill and Cole Custer on a dramatic overtime restart with just two laps to go. Prior to the overtime, the driver of the No. 7 Chevrolet made a pivotal decision to change all four tires during a pit stop, using two fresh tires on the right side. This strategy paid off as he surged ahead of his competitors on the restart.
Following Allgaier’s overtaking maneuver, a collision among other cars resulted in another caution period, but the JR Motorsports competitor managed to sustain his lead during the final restart, ultimately securing the victory and the long-awaited championship title.
“This is mind-blowing, it really is,” Allgaier expressed after the race. “We tried to give it away every way we could.”
Despite placing second in the race behind Riley Herbst, Allgaier’s performance was enough to outscore the other championship contenders, with Custer finishing eighth, AJ Allmendinger in ninth, and Hill rounding out the top ten in tenth place.
This championship marks a significant milestone for Allgaier, who previously secured 25 wins in the Xfinity series but had yet to capture a title despite making it to the final four a total of seven times over the last nine years. He finished runner-up in both 2020 and 2023.
Allgaier’s night was filled with challenges as he began from the back of the pack, having switched to a backup car after experiencing a crash during practice on Friday. Nevertheless, he quickly climbed through the ranks early in the race, reaching the top 10 within just 26 laps.
Midway through the event, however, Allgaier faced complications as his back left tire began losing air after an encounter with Herbst. Although he lost some ground, he managed to maintain a top-10 position through the conclusion of the second stage.
His championship aspirations appeared to diminish following two consecutive penalties during the next restart: one for an improper restart and the other for speeding on pit road. As a result, he found himself a lap down. Fortunately, he regained his position on the lead lap after a timely caution was called due to Anthony Alfredo hitting the wall.
Revitalized by the turn of events, Allgaier systematically worked his way back up the field before making the decisive pass on Hill and Custer with two laps remaining.
Allmendinger also began at the back, having opted to change brakes post-qualification. He made a swift ascent to the mid-pack but encountered difficulties maintaining control of his vehicle throughout the evening. Meanwhile, Custer held potential to secure back-to-back championships but ultimately could not keep pace with Allgaier’s fast car in the closing laps.
Herbst claimed victory in the first two stages, each comprising 45 laps. Both Custer and Allmendinger are set to advance to the Cup Series in the upcoming season.