Justin Allgaier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Justin Allgaier |
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Allgaier at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024
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| Born | Justin Myrl Allgaier June 6, 1986 Springfield, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Achievements | 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series Champion 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Regular Season Champion All-time NASCAR Xfinity Series top tens leader |
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| Awards | 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year 2019–2021, 2023-2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Most Popular Driver |
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| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 82 races run over 8 years | |||||||
| Car no., team | No. 40 (JR Motorsports) | ||||||
| 2022 position | 57th | ||||||
| Best finish | 29th (2014) | ||||||
| First race | 2013 GEICO 400 (Chicagoland) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 471 races run over 15 years | |||||||
| Car no., team | No. 7 (JR Motorsports) | ||||||
| 2024 position | 1st | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st (2024) | ||||||
| First race | 2008 Dollar General 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 2020 LS Tractor 200 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| First win | 2010 Scotts Turf Builder 300 (Bristol) | ||||||
| Last win | 2024 Cabo Wabo 250 (Michigan) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career | |||||||
| 8 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| 2008 position | 88th | ||||||
| Best finish | 56th (2006) | ||||||
| First race | 2005 Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last race | 2008 Built Ford Tough 225 (Kentucky) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of November 9, 2024. | |||||||
Justin Myrl Allgaier (born June 6, 1986) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He is a champion driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he drives the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports. He also sometimes races in the top-level NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 40 Chevrolet ZL1 for the same team. Justin has won big titles, including the 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series championship and the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. He was also named the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year.
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Justin Allgaier's Racing Journey
Starting Young in Racing
Justin Allgaier was born in Springfield, Illinois, and grew up in Riverton, Illinois. He started his racing career super early, at just five years old! He raced in tiny cars called quarter midgets. He was really good, winning over 100 races and five championships.
When he was thirteen, Justin moved up to stock car racing in the UMP Late Model Series. He raced there for three seasons. At sixteen, he made his first start in the ARCA Re/Max Series. He drove a Chevrolet for Ken Schrader at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack.
Justin kept racing in ARCA, even driving a car owned by his dad, Mike. In 2004, he even represented the United States in the South Pacific Saloon Car Championship. In 2005, he earned his first pole position (starting first) at Springfield. That same year, he made his NASCAR debut in the Craftsman Truck Series. He even appeared on a TV show called Driver X: The Race For The Ride on the Discovery Channel. The show was about Jack Roush looking for new racing stars.
In 2006, Justin raced full-time in ARCA. He won his first race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack. This made him the first person from the Springfield area to win there in 72 years! In 2007, he won another ARCA race at Salem. He also won two midget car races and finished third in the famous Chili Bowl race.
Becoming an ARCA Champion
In 2008, Justin raced another full season in ARCA with his family team. He had an amazing year, winning six races, including the last three! He won the series championship by a very small amount. This was a big deal because he broke Frank Kimmel's streak of winning eight championships in a row. He also raced in one NASCAR Truck Series race that year.
Moving to the Nationwide Series
In May 2008, Justin signed a deal with Penske Racing to drive in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He raced in four events that year. In 2009, he started racing full-time for Penske. He earned his first pole position in NASCAR at Memphis Motorsports Park.
During a race in Montreal in 2009, Justin had a crash with Ron Fellows and Kyle Busch. After this, he took lessons at Fellows' road racing school to improve his skills. These lessons really helped him later on!
In 2010, Justin had a great season. He won his first Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He finished fourth in the points standings that year. He was the highest-finishing regular driver in the series.
In 2011, Justin moved to Turner Motorsports. He drove the No. 31 Chevrolet Impala. He won the first-ever STP 300 race at Chicagoland Speedway. He passed Carl Edwards on the last lap because Edwards ran out of fuel. Justin also ran out of fuel, but he crossed the finish line first! He almost won at Road America too, but ran out of fuel on the final lap.
In 2012, Justin returned to the team, now called Turner Scott Motorsports. He won the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. He passed Jacques Villeneuve on the very last lap to take the win.
In 2013, Justin made his first start in the top-level NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drove for Phoenix Racing at Chicagoland Speedway and a few other tracks.
Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series
In 2014, Justin raced full-time in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for HScott Motorsports. He was competing for Rookie of the Year. He led some laps in the famous Daytona 500 race. At Talladega, he almost won his first Cup Series race, running in the top five. He finished 29th in the Cup Series standings that year.
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In 2015, Justin had his best Cup Series finish, coming in eighth at Bristol. He also had some strong runs at other tracks. On October 2, 2015, it was announced that Justin would leave HScott Motorsports. He decided to return to the Xfinity Series in 2016, driving the No. 7 for JR Motorsports.
Return to the Xfinity Series
Justin joined JR Motorsports in 2016. He had a strong season, even though he didn't win any races. He finished second three times! One of those second-place finishes was at Daytona, where he almost won. He ended the season third in the final standings.
In 2016, Justin also tried sports car racing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Brasil series. He raced in two endurance events.
In 2017, Justin continued with JR Motorsports. He won his first race in five years at Phoenix. This win helped him get into the NASCAR playoffs. He won again at Chicagoland Speedway in September. This was the first time in his career he won more than one race in a season. He finished third in the final standings again, helping JR Motorsports have a 1-2-3 finish in the points.
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The 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season was a big one for Justin. He had three second-place finishes early on. He won at Dover, but his win didn't count for the playoffs due to a penalty. Later, he dominated at Iowa, winning both stages and the race. He also won at Mid-Ohio, Road America, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won five races in total that year! He also won the 2018 Regular Season Championship.
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In 2019, Justin had a tough moment at Watkins Glen International. After Ross Chastain spun him, Justin later spun Chastain back. Justin believed Chastain was a "dirty driver." Justin won the final race of the Round of 8 at Phoenix. This win helped him get into the Championship 4 for the third time. He finished fourth in the points standings.
The 2020 Xfinity season started with some bad luck for Justin. But he swept both races at Richmond Raceway! He finished the season with three wins and made it to the Championship 4 again. He finished second among the Championship 4 drivers.
In July 2020, Justin got a special call. He filled in for Jimmie Johnson in the No. 48 Cup Series car at Indianapolis. Johnson had tested positive for the coronavirus.
In 2021, Justin won his first race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He beat Cup champion Martin Truex Jr.. He then won again at Darlington Raceway. In June, he even practiced and qualified for a Stadium Super Trucks race! He also filled in for Justin Haley in a Cup Series race at Pocono.
In 2022, Justin ended a long winless streak at Darlington. He also won at Nashville and New Hampshire. He made it to the Championship 4 race at Phoenix and finished third in the points.
The 2023 season saw Justin win at Charlotte. He had a super close win at the Daytona night race, beating Sheldon Creed by only 0.005 seconds! He won two more races in the playoffs at Bristol and Martinsville. He finished second in the points standings.
Becoming an Xfinity Champion
The 2024 season was Justin's championship year! He won at Darlington, leading many laps. He also won his second race of the season at Michigan. Even though he didn't win a playoff race, he was consistent enough to make the Championship 4. Justin finished second at the final race in Phoenix. This was enough for him to claim his first Xfinity Series championship after 14 years of hard work!
On May 26, 2024, Justin was a relief driver in the Cup Series again. He started the Coca-Cola 600 for Kyle Larson. Larson had raced in the Indianapolis 500 earlier that day. Justin stayed in the car for the whole race, which was shortened by rain.
Justin signed a contract to stay with JR Motorsports until 2026. In 2025, JR Motorsports will make its Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500, with Justin driving the No. 40 car.
Personal Life and Nickname
Justin studied engineering at Lincoln Land Community College from 2004 to 2006. He is married to Ashley, and they have two daughters named Harper and Willow.
Justin's nickname is "Little Gator." This is a fun play on his last name, and his father is also called "Gator."
After winning the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, December 14 is now known as "Justin Allgaier Day" in Springfield, Illinois.
