Justin Allgaier secures top-10 for JR Motorsports in team’s first Cup race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Justin Allgaier brought home a top-10 finish for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the first outing as a NASCAR Cup Series team owner.

Allgaier finished ninth in Sunday’s Daytona 500, securing a massive result in the first race in the NASCAR Cup Series for JR Motorsports.

Earlier in the week, Allgaier raced his way into the 500 in the Duel race, beating JJ Yeley to get into the race.

Once he was in the race, Earnhardt Jr. and country music star and sponsor Chris Stapleton watched Allgaier gain 20 spots in the first stage, eventually netting a 14th-place stage finish in the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet.

After a pit stop, Allgaier had to go to the rear of the field as his crew went over the wall too soon. That led to him getting damage after leader Joey Logano stalled and stacked the field up to Ross Chastain who wrecked with Helio Castroneves and others.

The crew repaired Allgaier’s car well enough to where he ran as high as eighth in the rest of the stage. He didn’t finish there as his line stalled, sending him back in the pack.

In the final stage, with four laps to go, Allgaier’s car sustained more damage in a wreck. Still, he managed to get back out for the final restart and avoid the calamity on the final lap to secure a top-10 in the maiden Cup voyage for JR Motorsports. 

“I think we checked all the boxes,” Allgaier said. “We hit all the markers – we had DVP, we had pit stops, we had craziness in picking lines. A lot of uncertainty on my part, just knowing the guys you are around. But all-in-all, it was a solid night. Missing the crash there at the end was cool. I assumed the caution was out and I didn’t know we were racing back to the line. That was cool to race back to the line and get a top-ten.”

“This is a big moment for JR Motorsports. We are excited about what the future holds for our company,” Allgaier added.

A report from Noah Lewis added more context to what Allgaier said. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is reportedly “interested in conversations with a partner that may want to purchase a charter in the future.”

Going home from the Daytona 500 very satisfied.

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 17, 2025