Justin Allgaier overcomes early mistakes to win first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship

AVONDALE, Ariz. – In one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory, longtime fan favorite Justin Allgaier at last claimed the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship trophy Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway – coming from a lap-down mid-race in a back-up car to hoist the shiny hardware.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Riley Herbst’s No. 98 Ford passed Allgaier’s No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race win on the last lap of double-overtime for his second win of the season and joined the new series champ Allgaier in twin celebratory burnouts on the front stretch of the mile-track.

“I said all weekend, I don’t know what the plan is, but He has a reason for everything and tonight is true of that, this is mind-blowing, it really is,” said Allgaier, his voice already hoarse and strained from screaming in happiness, but the smile unshakable as his young daughters came in for a hug for dad.

“This team never gave up. (Crew chief) Jim Pohlman and his leadership skills are second to none. He told me all weekend that we were going to have a chance and we tried to give it away every way we could.”

It was an emotional outcome for the 38-year old Allgaier, who joked that he was just trying to make the race exciting for the fans. He has qualified for the Championship 4 seven times, finishing runner-up twice, including last year.

The obstacles Allgaier faced happened well before the race’s green flag.

His primary car was destroyed in a crash four laps into Friday’s opening practice session. In a backup car Saturday night, Allgaier started last in the 38th car field but had moved into the top 10 by lap 26. He was then penalized twice – first for a re-start violation and then for speeding – dropping him to 35th on-track and a lap down on Lap 107 of the scheduled 200-lapper.

Allgaier then crept into the Top 10 worked his way forward – moving from sixth place to second on the first overtime restart. He started on the front row of the second overtime restart, but was passed on the final lap by Herbst for the race win. Allgaier’s second place finish was still good enough to land the championship.

It marked the third career win for the 25-year old Las Vegas native Herbst, who crossed the line .247-second ahead of Allgaier and led 167 of the 213 laps.

“I knew we were going to have a fast race car, these guys have been working on this race car and I knew we were going to be really really fast,” said Herbst, whose SHR team is closing at the conclusion of the season.

“It’s been a really tough week at the shop, really emotional time. I’m forever grateful to every man and woman at Stewart-Haas Racing. They gave me a really fast car today and I can’t thank everyone enough.”

It was actually fellow championship contender – reigning champ Cole Custer – who mounted the most consistent challenge to Herbst. He ran up front for most of the race, just off the pace of his SHR teammate and ultimately finished eighth in the No. 00 SHR Ford – his effort answered last year’s title with a runner-up in this year’s championship standings.

The other two championship contenders, Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger and Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill finished ninth and 10th, respectively.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship

Phoenix Raceway

Avondale, Arizona

Saturday, November 9, 2024

1. (3) Riley Herbst, Ford, 213.

2. (37) Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, 213.

3. (38) Aric Almirola (P), Toyota, 213.

4. (21) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 213.

5. (4) Chandler Smith, Toyota, 213.

6. (6) Jesse Love #, Chevrolet, 213.

7. (2) Sheldon Creed, Toyota, 213.

8. (7) Cole Custer (P), Ford, 213.

9. (9) AJ Allmendinger (P), Chevrolet, 213.

10. (5) Austin Hill (P), Chevrolet, 213.

11. (8) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 213.

12. (17) Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 213.

13. (1) William Sawalich(i), Toyota, 213.

14. (31) Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 213.

15. (15) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 213.

16. (16) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 213.

17. (13) Daniel Dye(i), Chevrolet, 213.

18. (33) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 213.

19. (24) Dylan Lupton, Ford, 213.

20. (22) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 213.

21. (32) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 213.

22. (25) Blaine Perkins, Ford, 213.

23. (23) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 213.

24. (28) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 213.

25. (20) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 213.

26. (11) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 213.

27. (34) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 213.

28. (30) Patrick Emerling, Chevrolet, 212.

29. (29) Kyle Sieg, Ford, 212.

30. (36) Garrett Smithley, Ford, 212.

31. (26) Leland Honeyman #, Chevrolet, 210.

32. (27) Dawson Cram(i), Chevrolet, 209.

33. (19) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 208.

34. (10) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, Accident, 204.

35. (18) Jeffrey Earnhardt(i), Toyota, Engine, 169.

36. (12) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, Accident, 152.

37. (35) Greg Van Alst, Chevrolet, Suspension, 108.

38. (14) Stefan Parsons(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 61.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 88.545 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 24 Mins, 20 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.247 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 7 for 53 laps.

Lead Changes: 21 among 8 drivers.

Lap Leaders: W. Sawalich(i) 0;S. Creed 1-6;R. Herbst 7;S. Creed 8-9;R. Herbst 10-49;J. Allgaier (P) 50;R. Herbst 51-54;C. Custer (P) 55-59;R. Herbst 60-78;J. Allgaier (P) 79;S. Creed 80-89;R. Herbst 90-145;C. Custer (P) 146-147;S. Creed 148-149;D. Dye(i) 150-151;P. Kligerman 152-153;R. Herbst 154-199;J. Allgaier (P) 200;A. Hill (P) 201-205;J. Love # 206-211;J. Allgaier (P) 212;R. Herbst 213.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Riley Herbst 7 times for 167 laps; Sheldon Creed 4 times for 20 laps; Cole Custer (P) 2 times for 7 laps; Jesse Love # 1 time for 6 laps; Austin Hill (P) 1 time for 5 laps; Justin Allgaier (P) 4 times for 4 laps; Daniel Dye(i) 1 time for 2 laps; Parker Kligerman 1 time for 2 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 98,81,18,21,1,7,00,19,20,2

Stage #2 Top Ten: 98,18,20,2,00,88,16,1,19,7

–By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.